(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Numerous NBA teams are negotiating new contracts with their players this summer but they aren’t the only ones offering a ton of money for their best talent.
ESPN is attempting to secure a new deal with their popular on-air personality, Stephen A. Smith.
According to John Ourand, per NBACentral, Smith is being offered $18 million annually but is demanding $25 million.
If these two sides can’t see eye-to-eye, ESPN may lose one of the biggest commentators in the world.
Stephen A. Smith now wants $25M annually from ESPN, per @Ourand_Puck
ESPN is offering $18M
“ESPN and Pitaro have put an $18 million-per-year offer in front of their generational star. It’s an insane amount of dough for a TV personality… but it still might not be enough.” … pic.twitter.com/mmrNvbyzHQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 21, 2024
The news of Smith’s hefty demand has a lot of people talking online.
Some don’t feel that Smith is worth such a massive amount, especially because they don’t typically agree with his opinions.
“$25M a year to yell on TV and have terrible takes is crazy,” one fan tweeted.
$25M a year to yell on TV and have terrible takes is crazy
— 30roblemz (@30problemz) June 21, 2024
Others pointed out that many NBA players don’t receive this sort of salary, which is a fair point.
Still, Smith could get his way and may get paid more than the professional athletes he speaks about.
He literally wants a salary higher than most NBA players
— eruj (@erujabidi) June 21, 2024
Other people are defending Smith, saying that he does an awful lot for ESPN and that the network uses him all the time.
They believe that he is worth the price he’s demanding and that he should receive it.
They ought to give the guy what hes asking for. They owe him everything if we’re being honest. This is coming from someone who isn’t even a fan of the guy. He’s single handedly carried that network – and they work the guy like hell.
— ᴅɪᴍᴇᴡᴏʀᴋ (@BeLiKeDime) June 21, 2024
A lot of people are hating but Stephen A literally carries ESPN
— FlightMike (Mikerophone) (@TheFlightMike) June 21, 2024
Smith is reportedly willing to do a lot more if he gets his pay bump.
He will not only speak about NBA games but will also offer his opinion to the NFL and beyond.
Will that be enough to secure this new salary?
He has definitely become an important part of the network and would leave a big hole in the channel’s lineup if he departed.
If he can’t work out a deal with ESPN, there is no doubt that multiple other networks would love to sign Smith.
The post Stephen A. Smith’s Reported Contract Demands Have Fans Talking appeared first on The Cold Wire.