Stephen A. Smith blasted for having ‘no hot takes’ as former colleague reignites rivalry in brutal takedown

Stephen A. Smith turned First Take into his own showcase.

The ESPN flagship features a revolving cast of talking heads, but there is only one center of its cinematic universe.

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Back in the day, there was a more balanced offering with Max Kellerman acting as a foil to Smith having replaced Skip Bayless.

Kellerman was ousted in 2021 and has since seen his former colleague land a $100 million contract that places him among the best-paid broadcasters and build a media empire that has spilled over into politics.

Smith has taken a few shots at the departed co-host in the years since.

Kellerman, who is releasing his own show for The Ringer with Rich Paul, has now fired back on The Bill Simmons Podcast.

“Stephen A. has no hot takes,” Kellerman said. “Stephen A., almost never, I can’t think of any counter-intuitive conclusions he ever reaches.

“That’s not his job on the air. His job is to be the big reactor to a counter-intuitive conclusion. Reactor.

“He’s there to hear the crazy conclusion that his partner has come to and actually be the everyman with a loud voice, like ‘You are crazy!’”

Kellerman believes Smith’s delivery is more important than the message.

“Stephen A.’s opinion will not diverge into counter-intuitive, almost ever,” he added. “So his big take will be, but he’ll deliver it theatrically is, ‘Steph Curry is the greatest shooter that God…’ who does not know this.”

Whether it was Bayless, Kellerman, or more recently Chris Russo, Cam Newton, and Chris Canty, Smith has plenty of big opinions to work off.

Why did Max Kellerman leave First Take?

Kellerman was silent for years about his exit, allowing others to fill the void.

But he had no issue watching his former co-stars discussing the reasons.

“That doesn’t bother me at all,” Kellerman said. “You’re talking about me. Like, I’m not sweating anybody like that.

“But I was very flattered, because if you go off the air, you’re not sure that the sports world would care.

“But people seemed to care. I was like, ‘Oh, look at that. People are thinking about me.’ I was very flattered by it, to tell you the truth.

“In terms of the stuff that went down behind the scenes, there were things said to me in private, early on.

“It’s not like anyone said to me, ‘Hey, this is top secret. Don’t repeat this.’ But I think there’s a general understanding that if someone’s talking to you in private, it’s a private conversation.

“I wouldn’t repeat that unless they said it was okay to repeat what they told me.

“That’s what I could tell you about, the behind-the-scenes stuff on First Take, for example. But… I’m really not worried about that stuff.”

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Kellerman believes that Smith pushed him out in order to ensure First Take revolved around him.

“If you’re doing a debate show and you’re a competitive person, why would you want me as a partner?” Kellerman continued.

“That’s bad. You want to go 15 rounds every day with ‘Muhammad Kellerman?’ That’s just bad. It’s embarrassing.”

At the end of the day, it may all be down to money.

Kellerman said: “I also think that if you make a calculation, that if you can be perceived as a solo act, really, that you can get paid at a certain level that you can’t if you’re not a solo act, then you’d like to be a solo act… or at least perceived that way.”

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