Stephen A. Smith stood behind the First Take desk and declared the Golden State Warriors hadn’t seen the playoffs since their 2022 championship, calling it a four-year drought. This bombshell dropped right after the Phoenix Suns booted the Warriors from last season’s play-in. Only problem? That drought never, ever happened.
The “Drought” That Vanished
Smith was out there burying Steve Kerr, practically saying he’d coached his last game. He then grumbled that Golden State could pay someone far less than $17 million a year to miss the postseason. Here’s the kicker, though: the Warriors actually reached the conference semi-finals in 2023 and then again in 2025! Seriously, how do you miss that? That’s not a four-year drought. That’s two trips deep into the playoffs after the 2022 title.
ESPN’s Problem With Facts
Shae Cornette, an ESPN anchor who actually had the basic facts locked down, tried to slide that inconvenient reality into the discussion. But nope. It went nowhere. Apparently, you just can’t correct the “franchise star” on an ESPN set. This whole mess shows exactly why fans looking to understand basketball are finding smarter conversations somewhere else. ESPN is cutting expert voices and rewarding viral arguments, even if those arguments are built on quicksand. It’s wild to think this went down only weeks after Smith was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame for his media work.
So, what’s next for ESPN and actual basketball analysis? Fans are clearly building smarter conversations elsewhere. The stakes are clear: deliver real takes based on facts, or keep letting the “star” run wild with misinformation. Which path will they take?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Guardian.
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