Stephen A. Smith admits he’s ’embarrassed’ and will go on ‘apology tour’ after ‘worst prediction’ in First Take career
STEPHEN A. Smith has been forced to eat humble pie once more after another excellent performance by the Denver Nuggets.
Their Conference Semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves got off to a rough start, losing their first two games.
Starting with a 106-99 loss, the Nuggets were then blown out 106-80 in Game 2.
The reigning NBA Champions' poor form, combined with excellent performances by the Timberwolves, prompted First Take host Smith to make a bold call.
"I think that the Denver Nuggets are on the edge of getting swept," he said on First Take.
"And I believe that the Minnesota Timberwolves are going to win the world championship."
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As it turned out, Smith couldn't have been more wrong.
The Nuggets have since won three straight, outscoring their opponents 344-294.
Now with Denver in the driver's seat in the series, and having already apologized on-air once before, Smith has again taken to the ESPN show to admit to his mistake.
"Right now, the Minnesota Timberwolves have me looking like I have made the worst prediction in the history of my career," he said on Wednesday.
"I've never been more embarrassed by a prediction that I have made than what I did when I was in South Beach last week."
After rewatching the footage of his original take, Smith added that he owed an apology "to the organization that is the Denver Nuggets."
Smith then heaped praise on Nuggets stars Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP, who he described as "something to behold."
He also claimed that Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, "Is getting his a** kicked thoroughly."
As for the Timberwolves as a whole, Smith felt that barring Anthony Edwards, "They look defeated."
Should the Nuggets go on to reach the Finals, then Smith will have to fulfill a bold promise made on Wednesday.
"I might personally go on a d**n apology tour throughout the city of Denver," he said.
If Denver beats the Timberwolves, they will take on either the Dallas Mavericks or the Oklahoma City Thunder for a spot in the Finals.
There they will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, or Indiana Pacers.
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First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
Dallas and Oklahoma City are currently tied at 2-2, while the Knicks lead their series 3-2, and the Celtics theirs 3-1.
The Nuggets' next game against Minnesota is on Thursday in Minneapolis.