What Sports Did Stephen a Smith Play?

Find out what sports Stephen A. Smith played in his youth and how they’ve helped him become one of the most successful sports commentators today.

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Early Life

Stephen A. Smith is an American sports television personality, sports radio host, sports analyst, and former professional basketball player who currently works for ESPN. Stephen A. Smith played high school basketball and was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft by the New York Knicks.

Stephen Anthony Smith was born in New York City

Stephen Anthony Smith was born in New York City. The only child of African American parents, Steve was raised in the Hollis section of Queens. His mother, Janet Smith, worked as a schoolteacher, and his father, Bessie Smith, was a factory worker. Steve would often accompany his father to work, where he developed an early interest in cars and mechanics. Bessie Smith died when Steve was just 13 years old, and Janet Smith soon remarried. From his stepfather, Steve learned the value of hard work and dedication.

Smith’s mother was a teenage single parent

Smith’s mother, Anne, was a teenage single parent. She raised Smith and his two sisters, Diana and Monique, in Hollis, Queens. As a child, he wanted to play basketball but was too short. Instead, he gravitated toward track and field. He ran the 100-yard dash in 10.8 seconds at the age of 12.

College Career

Stephen A Smith played both basketball and football while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. After a brief time in the NFL, Smith decided to focus on his career as a sports journalist.

Smith attended the Fashion Institute of Technology

Smith attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City but left after two years due to financial difficulties. Afterward, he worked as a reporter for the New York Daily News. In 1983, Smith was hired as a sports anchor for WWOR-TV’s ninth and 10 o’clock news. Two years later, he became the station’s sports director. The following year, he briefly worked as a sports anchor at WCBS-TV before returning to WWOR-TV in 1986.

Smith also played basketball at FIT

In addition to his work as a sports journalist, Stephen A. Smith is also a former professional basketball player. He played collegiate basketball for the Fashion Institute of Technology from 1984 to 1986, and he briefly played in the World Basketball League for the Youngstown Pride in 1987.

NBA Career

Stephen A. Smith is an American sports analyst, television personality, sports radio host, and former professional basketball player. Smith played high school basketball at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn and played collegiately at the Fashion Institute of Technology. He was drafted in the second round of the 1987 NBA draft by the New York Knicks but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night.

Smith was drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the NBA draft

After being drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round of the NBA draft, Smith played two seasons with the team before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He would go on to play three seasons with the Sixers, and then spent a season with the Charlotte Hornets before being traded back to the Heat. He would finish his career with Miami, playing a total of six seasons with the team. In his NBA career, Smith averaged 7.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

Smith played for the Heat for two seasons

Smith played for the Miami Heat for two seasons, starting in the 1993–94 NBA season. He was then signed by the Winnipeg Jets of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), but was immediately released. Smith then landed back on his feet with the Atlantic City Seagulls of the United States Basketball League (USBL), where he averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game. When that league folded, he joined his hometown Hartford Hellcats of the Northeast Conference (NEC).

Post-NBA Career

Stephen A Smith is a sports commentator,talk show host, and former professional basketball player. Stephen A Smith played basketball for the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers. After his NBA career, Stephen A Smith became a sports commentator for ESPN.

Smith has worked as a sports analyst for ESPN since 2003

In 2003, Smith began working for ESPN as a commentator on ESPN First Take. In 2007, he launched his own radio show called Stephen A. Smith Show on Sirius XM Radio. He has also served as a sports analyst on SportsCenter and ESPNews. In 2011, Smith co-hosted a nationally syndicated radio show called The Skip and Stephen A. Show with Ryen Russillo.