On Thursday night, the lives of over 50 basketball players were changed forever from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. at the 2023 NBA Draft. First overall draft selection Victor Wembanyama was the headline attraction, and the French phenom’s arrival to the Association attracted more than 12,000 people to celebrate at a watch party from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Brandon Miller and Sterling “Scoot” Henderson were the next two selections by Charlotte and Portland, respectively, followed by the Thompson twins, Amen and Ausar.
Coverage of the night was broadcast across multiple platforms owned by The Walt Disney Company, including ESPN, ESPN Radio and ABC. While there were a variety of analysts on the ESPN broadcast including JJ Redick, Andraya Carter and Jay Bilas, the ABC broadcast was more predicated on storytelling and featured the duo of Kevin Neghandi and Stephen A. Smith. Yet it was a moment before the proceedings officially commenced that caught the attention of some astute viewers involving Smith and Wembanyama penetrating far beyond the stark height difference.
Instead of asking him about basketball or the draft process itself, Smith chose to ask Wembanyama about his outfit. Many draft picks entered the arena flaunting expensive jewelry and flamboyantly immersing themselves into the professional lifestyle, and it was indeed part of the NBA Draft Red Carpet Special. Yet Denver Sports 104.3 The Fan morning host and FOX Sports football analyst Mark Schlereth could not help wondering just what exactly was happening.
“I’m like, ‘What in the world are we doing?,’” Schlereth said. “We’re going to talk about what you’re wearing going into the NBA Draft? I was just like, ‘You lost me,’ and maybe that’s because I’m just an old fart but Lord have mercy, aren’t there other things to talk about than the suit that you’re wearing?”
Smith has hardly concealed his desire to broaden his media coverage beyond the world of sports, hence why he podcasts three times a week on his eponymously named program, The Stephen A. Smith Show. The topics discussed on that program do not always directly pertain to sports and include conversations about politics, pop culture and hard news. Nearly every week, different media outlets are covering what Smith has to say on the podcast, with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich even granting him his own segment.
“He wants to host the Oscars [and] he wants to run for president,” Chad Andrus said while filling in for Mike Evans on the show. “[Stephen A. Smith] doesn’t think he’s a sports talking head; he thinks he’s a superstar appealing to everyone.”
The Walt Disney Company choosing to put Smith in its red carpet coverage and then on ABC to interview draft selections in a more casual, relaxed setting was a different viewership experience from the traditional linear broadcast. There was less time devoted to analysis about the draftees from Smith and more dedicated to storytelling and questions related to lifestyle. Basketball fans more interested in the culture of the game were inclined to watch ABC, while those looking for focused conversation and news likely watched ESPN.
I just love competition — but I’m not a huge NBA guy compared to what I like NFL wise,” Schlereth said. “The NBA Draft — it felt like ESPN is trying to make it the NFL Draft. Right off the bat, it just made me like, ‘Oh my gosh, you have got to be kidding me.’
Schlereth observed that Smith’s on-air performance had some resemblance to an audition for the Academy Awards. He does not doubt that Smith is deliberately trying to display what he can do beyond informing and entertaining viewers weekday mornings on First Take and trying to fulfill his own goal of being the No. 1 media personality of all time.
“I know Stephen A. well enough to know that – yes, he doesn’t think he’s a superstar; he knows he’s a superstar,” Schlereth said.
“Well he’s paid like one, so it’s kind of tough to argue,” Andrus replied.
