ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Says One NBA Star “Will Always Catch Stray” on ‘First Take’

Leave it to ESPN’s golden boy, Stephen A. Smith, to throw out a statement that causes a stir among NBA fans. On the February 17th episode of First Take, while talking with his panel of guests about Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, Smith opted to use some of his time to take a swipe at another NBA superstar who isn’t even on the Spurs. 

What’s more, is that when the panelists called Smith out on his out-of-the-blue insult, Smith didn’t even hesitate to double down on his opinion. In fact, he claimed he would hold his opinion for the foreseeable future, at the very least as long as First Take is on the air. So who’s this NBA player? Ben Simmons.

What Happened to Ben Simmons?

Now, before diving into what Smith actually said, it’s worth acknowledging that Simmons has had a rocky past with the NBA and its fans, stemming back to his days playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Although his career started out promising for the franchise, by the 2020-2021 season, he broke a record as the worst free-throw shooter in playoff history. Subsequently, his relationship with the team soured by the next season, and he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. 

Unfortunately, injury would plague him as he suffered from a nerve impingement in his back while with the Nets, making for lower stats and bouts where he wasn’t able to play. He eventually wound up with the Los Angeles Clippers before becoming a free agent at the end of the 2025 season. 

Although injury has derailed his career, much has been said about the mental hurdles and performance anxiety that have prevented him from excelling as people expected him to. He has plenty of naysayers who believe his underperformance in the league has to do with his own anxiety opposed to physical ailments. 

Stephen A. Smith Has a Beef with Ben Simmons 

Again, the First Take conversation was about the subject of Wemby and the Spurs. To make his point for comparison sake, Smith brings up the Lakers being “allergic to hitting perimeter shots when they’re open.” It didn’t take long after this statement for him to say the Lakers “aren’t quite Ben Simmons.” 

When the guest panelists on First Take, with grins, question why Simmons was brought into the discussion and is “catching a stray,” Smith responds: 

“On this show, as long as First Take is in existence, Ben Simmons will catch strays. We have never, ever, ever, ever seen. Let me tell you something right now, I ain’t apologizing to a damn soul. There is no bigger thief in the history of the NBA than that man. You talk about a dude that would not shoot the damn basketball. That is the biggest thief. I mean, if Ben Simmons runs near a basketball arena, he should be arrested.”

Smith goes on to take jabs at Simmons, claiming the player was once so traumatized that he couldn’t shoot, and yet was cashing in on his NBA contract salary. It’s worth noting that the other panelists didn’t disagree with Smith necessarily, but chuckled. Take a look for yourself.

"As long as First Take is in existence, Ben Simmons will catch strays. I ain’t apologizing for it to a damn soul. There is no bigger thief in the history of the NBA…if Ben Simmons runs near a basketball arena, he should be arrested." – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/Xdc6WksTqX

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2026

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