Stephen A. Smith roasted for calling out NBA after brutal takedown

Stephen A. Smith questions need for fewer games.

But that's not the only thing he's been talking about lately.

After the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday night, Smith released a video discussing how the Democratic Party's dominance might cost them in the 2028 elections.

Nick Wright did not let it slide.

The First Things First host called Smith out on X with a post that cut straight to the point.

"The problem with refusing to be honest with your audience (and potentially yourself!) about your politics while creating political content is you end up creating political content that appeals to… absolutely no one," Wright wrote.

The post was direct.

It named Smith. It questioned his integrity.

Smith has been active in political commentary for a significant amount of time.

There have even been suggestions that he might eventually run for political office himself.

Smith has said in the past he would run as a Democrat if he had to, but he has also agreed with Republicans on various issues.

This puts him in a complicated spot.

Wright's criticism suggests that Smith is not being transparent about where he stands.

That lack of clarity, Wright argued, produces content that satisfies no audience.

The current political climate in the country is tense.

Multiple issues being discussed in races have involved the sports world, albeit indirectly at times.

Now some of the biggest names in sports media are getting involved directly.

Smith is unlikely to let this response slide.

He has built a career on defending his positions and pushing back against critics.

Wright's post was public.

It was blunt. And it came from a fellow sports analyst who works in the same building.

That makes it different from a fan or a columnist.

This is an insider calling out an insider.

Meanwhile, Smith has also been defending the NBA's 82-game schedule.

Bill Simmons recently called the NBA greedy for putting financial interests over player health.

Smith disagreed.

"Before the money came into play, cats were playing these number of games," Smith explained on his show.

"Wasn't making as much money as they are making now. You had some cats moonlighting, having jobs outside basketball to supplement their basketball income. They say nothing then."

He continued: "How is it that you become more rich, more wealthy, more affluent, more posh and comfortable, and somehow that leads to you saying, 'Oh, by the way, let's work less too.'"

The NBA has played an 82-game regular season since 1967-68.

Before that, it was 81 games in 1966-67, and 80 games in 1961-62.

Except for lockout-shortened years and the COVID-19 season, the league has always played 82 games.

The NBA didn't sign its first billion-dollar TV deal until 1998, a four-year, $2.64 billion deal with NBC and Turner Sports.

By 2016, the league was already raking in at least $1 billion per year from its TV deal.

LeBron James talked about the pace of today's game and how a more relaxed offseason and preseason could be contributing to injuries.

Smith acknowledged LeBron's points.

"I understand the point about injuries," he added.

"LeBron's points are on point. We are not to question him. He knows, damn it. I got it."

Then he brought up past players.

"But how many times did MJ play 80 times in a season? 82 in a season? The Gary Paytons of the world? Kobe Bryants of the world?"

Michael Jordan played at least 80 games 11 times in 15 seasons played.

This included nine years when he played all 82 games.

Gary Payton played at least 80 games in 13 of 17 NBA seasons.

Smith did not even mention Utah Jazz legend John Stockton, who played 82 games in 17 of the 19 seasons he played.

The 2026-27 NBA season is now more than two weeks in.

Several injuries have occurred, including serious ones that will sideline superstars for months and others for the entire campaign.