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    The Bill Simmons Podcast

    Talking Basketball and Life With Stephen A. Smith

    Wed Jul 12 2023
    SportsWork-Life BalanceHealthCareer SetbacksCompetitionDebatesAthlete AccountabilityTrade RumorsNew York KnicksBrooklyn NetsKevin DurantPodcast

    Description

    In this episode, Stephen A. Smith discusses his career and workload, struggles with work-life balance and health, career setbacks and fear of unemployment, competition and controversy in the industry, authenticity and respect in debates, holding athletes accountable and trade speculations, trade rumors and player discontent, New York Knicks' struggles and missed opportunities, Brooklyn Nets' rise and New York Knicks' struggles, Kevin Durant's career choices and coaching impact, and The Steven A. Smith Show and future plans.

    Insights

    Work-Life Balance

    Stephen A. Smith reached a tipping point in his career due to long hours of work and had to make adjustments.

    Sleep Apnea and Health

    The speaker suffered from sleep apnea, which affected their energy levels, but treatment improved their sleep quality and energy levels.

    Career Setbacks and Fear of Unemployment

    The speaker experienced unemployment and learned the importance of not depending on one employer.

    Competition and Controversy

    Competition in the industry is admired, but controversial takes can go too far.

    Authenticity and Respect in Debates

    Stephen A. Smith demands authenticity from guests and believes athletes have a right to feel respected during debates.

    Holding Athletes Accountable

    Stephen A. Smith believes in holding athletes accountable for their performance and responsibilities.

    Trade Rumors and Player Discontent

    Dame Lillard's desire to be traded and the support for trading him to Miami are discussed.

    New York Knicks' Struggles

    The speaker expresses frustration with the Knicks' management and missed opportunities in acquiring star players.

    Brooklyn Nets' Rise

    Brooklyn is becoming the new basketball capital, and Kevin Durant's career choices are analyzed.

    The Steven A. Smith Show

    Steven A. Smith discusses his podcast, future plans, and topics covered on the show.

    Chapters

    1. Stephen A. Smith's Career and Workload
    2. Struggles with Work-Life Balance and Health
    3. Career Setbacks and Fear of Unemployment
    4. Competition and Controversy in the Industry
    5. Authenticity and Respect in Debates
    6. Holding Athletes Accountable and Trade Speculations
    7. Trade Rumors and Player Discontent
    8. New York Knicks' Struggles and Missed Opportunities
    9. Brooklyn Nets' Rise and New York Knicks' Struggles
    10. Kevin Durant's Career Choices and Coaching Impact
    11. The Steven A. Smith Show and Future Plans
    Summary
    Transcript

    Stephen A. Smith's Career and Workload

    00:04 - 06:28

    • Stephen A. Smith discusses his vacation and how he enjoys going to different locations depending on his mood.
    • He talks about his love for sports and how he works hard to earn his success.
    • Stephen A. Smith admires others in the industry who put in the work and set an example to follow.
    • This year was a tipping point for him due to the long hours of work.
    • He had to speak with his bosses about the workload and made adjustments.

    Struggles with Work-Life Balance and Health

    05:58 - 17:59

    • The speaker reached a tipping point in their career when they realized they were spending too many hours on their job, neglecting personal time with family.
    • They struggled with the continuous demands of hosting a show like Countdown, feeling drained and unable to perform at the level they desired.
    • They expressed frustration with the limited airtime during halftime and post-game shows, wishing for more opportunity to discuss and analyze games.
    • Having a post-game show similar to TNT's would have given them more energy and enthusiasm for their work.
    • They revealed that they suffered from sleep apnea for years, which affected their energy levels and ability to function effectively.
    • After getting treatment for sleep apnea and improving their sleep quality, the speaker now wakes up with more energy and gets at least five to six hours of sleep per night.
    • The combination of using a CPAP machine for sleep apnea and taking supplements has improved the speaker's energy levels.

    Career Setbacks and Fear of Unemployment

    12:16 - 17:59

    • Sleep apnea can be debilitating and scary due to the lack of oxygen to the brain.
    • The speaker emphasizes the importance of good health in enjoying success.
    • The speaker was unemployed for a year after leaving ESPN, feeling bitter about losing multiple jobs.
    • The speaker's mother encouraged self-reflection and being solution-oriented.
    • The former president of ESPN assured the speaker that there was an opportunity to return in the future.
    • Losing everything at ESPN made the speaker realize the importance of not depending on one employer.
    • The fear of unemployment drives the speaker to work hard every day.
    • Both speakers relate to feeling like their careers were over after experiencing setbacks.
    • They express admiration and respect for other successful figures in their industry, despite potential competition.

    Competition and Controversy in the Industry

    17:31 - 24:12

    • Competition in the podcasting industry is admired and respected.
    • Rooting for others to succeed is important at the top.
    • Some people can't handle criticism and pushback in this business.
    • Being in it just for the money hinders success.
    • First Take had some intense moments with compelling arguments.
    • Controversial takes often get rewarded on social media.
    • The JJ and Perk debate went too far on one episode of First Take.
    • Both JJ and Perk were wrong to a degree in their arguments.
    • The host's role is to control the show and prevent things from going too far.

    Authenticity and Respect in Debates

    23:57 - 30:28

    • Stephen A. demands authenticity from guests on First Take
    • He wants them to be true and not fake anything
    • Sometimes in the heat of a debate, guests may say something they didn't mean
    • JJ Redick felt uncomfortable when Kendrick Perkins criticized him on the show
    • Stephen A. tries to keep the arguments focused on the subject matter, not personal attacks
    • He recalls an uncomfortable moment between Jalen Rose and Skip Bayless
    • Stephen A. believes it's important for athletes to feel respected during debates
    • He argues that athletes have a right to call out pundits if they constantly criticize them

    Holding Athletes Accountable and Trade Speculations

    30:19 - 36:39

    • Athletes sometimes get upset with us because we have the platform to criticize them
    • An athlete challenged me to say something to his face, and I stood my ground
    • I believe in holding athletes accountable for their performance
    • It's harder to criticize when an athlete wants to leave a team rather than perform poorly
    • I had a conversation with Ben Simmons about his situation and the responsibility that comes with being paid
    • Retiring from football due to physical punishment is different from not wanting to play but still collecting a paycheck
    • I was critical of Kyrie Irving in the past, but now I just want him to focus on basketball
    • Basketball players have responsibilities they signed up for, even if there are more important things in life

    Trade Rumors and Player Discontent

    36:18 - 42:49

    • Showing up and earning support is important in any profession
    • Social media allows players to respond to misrepresentation
    • Dame Lillard signed a contract extension but now wants to be traded
    • Many people support the idea of trading Lillard to Miami
    • Portland may owe it to Lillard to send him to his preferred team
    • James Harden's defense has been criticized in Houston and Brooklyn
    • Lillard has a strong relationship with Portland and the community
    • Portland played a role in creating the situation by asking Lillard to sit games
    • The unexpected emergence of Scoot Hatterson changed Portland's plans
    • Miami may not want to trade for Lillard due to their existing guards
    • It's okay for Lillard to ask for what he wants, even if he doesn't get it

    New York Knicks' Struggles and Missed Opportunities

    42:24 - 49:19

    • The speaker dislikes going to the arena in America due to traffic and limited access.
    • He believes Damian Lillard should consider leaving Portland if they can't build a championship team around him.
    • He mentions potential trade destinations for Lillard, including Philadelphia, Minnesota, and New Orleans.
    • The speaker suggests that a three-team trade may be necessary for a Lillard deal.
    • He disagrees with trading Tyrese Maxey from the Philadelphia 76ers for Lillard.
    • The speaker discusses the possibility of Jalen Brunson joining the New York Knicks and how it could impact a potential Lillard trade.
    • He speculates about Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with the Milwaukee Bucks and the potential for him to leave in search of a better chance at winning a title.

    Brooklyn Nets' Rise and New York Knicks' Struggles

    48:52 - 55:01

    • The speaker expresses frustration with the New York Knicks' management and their inability to attract star players.
    • They mention past players like Bernard King who brought excitement to the team.
    • The speaker emphasizes the need for a marquee player who can lead the team to championship aspirations.
    • They discuss missed opportunities in acquiring star players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
    • The speaker reflects on previous instances where star players were pursued by other teams, such as LeBron James in 2010 and Kevin Durant in 2016.
    • They express disappointment with missed opportunities in acquiring top draft picks like Steph Curry or Zion Williamson.

    Kevin Durant's Career Choices and Coaching Impact

    54:38 - 1:01:08

    • Brooklyn is becoming the new basketball capital, replacing the Knicks.
    • Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving cost themselves about half a billion dollars in off-court opportunities by choosing Brooklyn over the New York Mets.
    • KD is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
    • Joining the Golden State Warriors was seen as a weak move by KD, but it also diluted his argument of wanting to play the right way.
    • Steve Kerr is considered one of the top five coaches in NBA history.
    • The coaching and culture in Golden State with Steph Curry couldn't be replicated in Washington with Bradley Beal.

    The Steven A. Smith Show and Future Plans

    1:00:48 - 1:03:33

    • Steven A. Smith changed the name of his podcast to 'The Steven A. Smith Show' for better searchability.
    • Initially, ESPN and Carp made him do a title class and choose a different title, but later allowed him to change it to his name.
    • He owns and operates the podcast independently from ESPN.
    • The podcast is going well, with live episodes on YouTube every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
    • Steven A. Smith plans to expand the podcast to five days a week in the future.
    • The podcast covers not only sports but also pop culture, entertainment, politics, and interviews with politicians like Governor Chris Christie.
    • Steven A. Smith enjoys talking about these topics and bringing questions from laymen's perspective.
    • He has no intentions of slowing down but will pace himself by going to sleep earlier and not staying in the office until midnight.
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