ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith did not appear on Tuesday’s edition of “First Take,” one day after the New York Knicks suffered a late-game collapse.
The network did not immediately provide an on-air explanation for Smith’s absence, and neither Smith nor ESPN had issued a public statement by airtime. Regular co-hosts filled the broadcast without mentioning when the longtime analyst would return.
Smith, a well-known Knicks supporter, is typically featured prominently on the show and often reacts passionately to the team’s performance. His unexpected no-show came less than 24 hours after New York’s loss, which the New York Post described as a “collapse.”
Additional details on the circumstances behind Smith’s absence were not available at the time of publication.
Source: New York Post
