Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith looks on before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

After more than two decades appearing on the show, TV superstar Stephen A. Smith is no longer a regular on ESPN's Inside the NBA programming.

Smith originally joined the show when it was called NBA Shootaround in 2003 and later became NBA Countdown in 2012. Moving forward, he is no longer a part of the regular rotation hosted by Malika Andrews. She is joined by analysts Brian Windhorst, former NBA head coach Michael Malone, and former NBA big man Kendrick Perkins.

Shams Charania will also make regular appearances on the show with his insider information as well.

Some fans were surprised by the announcement that Smith will no longer appear on the NBA's pregame show.

This move, however, was actually expected since Smith signed a five-year extension with the Worldwide Leader earlier this year.

Andrew Marchand reported as much in March (via The Athletic):

Smith will remain a fixture on “First Take,” his daily morning flagship show on ESPN, but will be less omnipresent on the rest of the network, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the terms of the agreement were not expected to be announced publicly. 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.

He wasn't fired, though, and this is hardly a demotion for Smith considering his new contract reportedly pays $20 million annually.

It is just a reallocation of his time, and now that ESPN is also syndicating Inside the NBA with Charles Barkley from TNT, it makes sense to use Smith elsewhere so he isn't stretched too thin.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Stephen A. Smith was removed from NBA Countdown on ESPN

Reporting by Bryan Kalbrosky, For The Win / For The Win

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect