ESPN has removed host Stephen A Smith from one of its most popular programs.

Smith, one of the most visible analysts on both mainstream and social media, is known for having an incredible workload. However, it appears he’s scaling back.

The network officially announced its new team for ‘NBA Countdown’ this week. And Smith, who is thought to have gotten some of his coworkers in trouble with The Worldwide Leader in Sports in recent weeks, was a notable absentee.

The show’s new cast includes Kendrick Perkins, Michael Malone, Brian Windhorst, and Shams Charania, with Malika Andrews hosting.

Smith has been a regular on the show since it debuted as ‘NBA Shootaround’ in 2003, and will probably make the odd appearance moving forward. However, he’s no longer part of the main crew.

Stephen A Smith’s Exit From ‘NBA Countdown’ Makes Perfect Sense For Both Him And ESPN

Stephen A. Smith (Photo via ESPN)

The move isn’t a demotion and, according to Awful Announcing, was “widely” expected after the 58-year-old signed his new $105 million deal with the company earlier this year.

Andrew Marchand of The Athletic also revealed as much when detailing Smith’s contract back in March.

“Smith will not be a regular on ESPN’s premiere NBA pregame show anymore, though he could still make occasional appearances on top basketball studio programs, as well as the Monday Night Football pregame or during other big time events,” Marchand wrote.

Smith, who had fans worried when discussing a recent surgery, will still be very busy. Aside from his role as the host of ‘First Take’, he hosts a radio show on SiriusXM and also runs his own YouTube show.

With ‘NBA Countdown’ no longer the biggest basketball show on ESPN, given the arrival of ‘Inside the NBA’, Smith’s exit makes sense for both parties.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.