$25M worth Stephen A. Smith's reported new ESPN deal could match Kyrie Irving's current guaranteed salary
Stephen A. Smith is reportedly signing a new deal to stay with ESPN. Smith's contract has been a talking point over the past year, but it seems like he'll be staying put. He has previously been vocal about wanting to be the worldwide leader in sports' highest-paid analyst.
According to Brian Steinberg of Variety, the two sides are close to a record five-year, $120 million contract. That will make Smith, worth $25 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, the highest-paid ESPN talent over Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pat McAfee. The network signed McAfee to a five-year, $85 million deal last year.
Smith's current contract will expire next year, which gives him $12 million annually. The rumored initial offer was around $18 million per year, but it seems like he has leveraged to add $2 million more.
If it becomes official, he'll make the same money as Kyrie Irving through his three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Irving's contract is worth $126 million, with $120 million in guaranteed money and the remaining amount achievable via incentives. It's an unprecedented deal for a personality like Smith, who is also showing interest in hosting a late night show on ABC.
However, Stephen A. Smith has denied making any comments to confirm his negotiations with ESPN. Smith told The Athletic that he knows how these kinds of deals work and he will keep his mouth shut about it.
"Here's my quote, 'I was born AT NIGHT, not last night. I don't talk about my contract negotiations. Never have. Never will," Smith said.
The 57-year-old analyst is the current host of First Take, where he debates against several sports personalities such as NFL legend Shannon Sharpe, former NFL MVP Cam Newton and veteran sports personality Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.
Smith's net worth will likely increase once his new deal has been confirmed. He's also the host of his own podcast called The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube.
Stephen A. Smith calls out Joe Biden for pardoning son
Stephen A. Smith recently called out the president of the United States, Joe Biden, for pardoning his son Hunter a few weeks before he leaves the White House.
"Respectfully, to the president of the United States, specifically as it pertains to that statement, you’re full of it," Smith said, according to Fox Sports. "I'm going to look right here, over the national airwaves, and look the president of the United States in the face and say, 'You're full of it.'"
Smith said he understood the decision by Biden since he's doing it out of love as a father. However, the ESPN analyst didn't like the additional excuses that the POTUS made as to why he pardoned Hunter from his convictions on firearms and tax affairs.