Kyrie doesn't understand why Stephen A. Smith is making more money than Wemby

[NO-KG-AI]

Kyrie wouldn’t be as highly regarded as he is if it weren’t for network talking heads that just rate players on iso ability and highlights.

[NoStatsGuy]

SAS generates a lot of interest and revenue, wether people like it or not. i find him extremely annoying aswell. but apparently people wanna see him yap. with all due respect to kyrie, i dont think he has an educated opinion about what contract is worth it from a economy/business standpoint.

and its also a little bit entitled to think his job matters more than anybody else's. they are all creating content for entertainment, nothing more nothing less.

[dolphinatik]

Is Stephen A over paid , yes. Does an nba player need to get paid 1m a game, no. But here we are anyway overvaluing entertainment we can't control.

[azcatz11]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

[Slimjimzv]

I'm not a fan, but more people pay to watch SAS, than to watch Wemby. Simple economics.

[jfs1000d]

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Via Basket News:

NBA star questions analyst’s salary compared to Wemby
2025 July 12 14:17

Kyrie Irving called out Stephen A. Smith’s $25 million ESPN contract during a Twitch stream, arguing sports analysts deserve the same public criticism as NBA players when they underperform. He challenged the double standard in media coverage of athlete salaries and value.

Kyrie Irving has never been shy about speaking his mind, and now that he’s active on Twitch while rehabbing a torn ACL, he’s using the platform to dive deeper into basketball debates—and challenge the sports media status quo.

Recently, Irving took aim at the way sports analysts critique NBA players’ salaries, calling out what he sees as a double standard. His example? ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

“I’m going to discuss Stephen A’s contract, and I’m going to say he’s not worth it,” Kyrie said bluntly on stream. “Obviously, Stephen A., this is for an [example],” he clarified, making clear it wasn’t a personal attack—just a point about fairness.

For years, players have been criticized by fans and pundits alike for failing to live up to big contracts. Washington’s Bradley Beal has become the face of this conversation, earning over $53 million this season while averaging just 17 points per game. But as Irving noted, fans tend to follow the lead of major media personalities.

“Sheep will follow the shepherd,” he remarked, arguing that if analysts want to publicly scrutinize players' performance versus pay, their own earnings should also be fair game.

Smith, arguably the most recognizable name in sports broadcasting, recently signed a five-year, $25 million contract with ESPN. That’s more annually than Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ rising star, who’s making $13.7 million.

“Does Smith deserve to earn more than Wemby?” Kyrie asked rhetorically—highlighting the strange optics of a broadcaster out-earning a generational basketball talent.

Irving’s main point was about accountability. If players are criticized for not delivering on their contracts, analysts should also face scrutiny when they offer poor takes or get things wrong—something fans have often accused Smith of.

In a new era where athletes have their own platforms and can speak directly to fans, the traditional role of sports analysts is being questioned. Irving’s take may be bold, but he’s far from alone in thinking it’s time to challenge the narrative.

Because Stephen A brings in more revenue than Wemby.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[floppymoose]

Do I think Kyrie is right? In general, no. In the case where everyone's values and entertainment tastes are more similar to mine, absolutely. In that world, Wemby would bring in more revenue than SAS.

[bonita_the_frog]

Stephen A Smith turns up to work and does his job, delivering exactly what his employer wants.
Kyrie Irving has disappointed his employer time and time again, and already Wembanyama has disappointed his employer too...

[KGtabake]

Stephen A Smith turns up to work and does his job, delivering exactly what his employer wants.
Kyrie Irving has disappointed his employer time and time again, and already Wembanyama has disappointed his employer too...

Wenbanyana has disappointed his employer because he got injuries?
He's an ATHLETE.
Athletes get injured, it's part of the job description.
Wenbanyana isn't get paid by Smith.
Smith gets paid because he talks Wenbanyana and others.
Smith owes to Wenbanyana and others his job.
Without them, he has no job.

Smith didn't "disappoint" anyone because even if he gets hurt, he can still do his job on TV(although i don't see how an entertainer can rapture his achilles but you never know).

What kind of post is this smh

[-Luke-]

It's not simple economics though. Stephen A operates in a free market, Wemby does not. Wemby gets what he gets because the NBA (CBA) dictates exactly how much Wemby earns. Even if Wemby would bring the Spurs 10 billion in revenue due to jersey sales etc., he would get the exact same amount he currently gets.

[bonita_the_frog]

Stephen A Smith turns up to work and does his job, delivering exactly what his employer wants.
Kyrie Irving has disappointed his employer time and time again, and already Wembanyama has disappointed his employer too...

Wenbanyana has disappointed his employer because he got injuries?
He's an ATHLETE.
Athletes get injured, it's part of the job description.
Wenbanyana isn't get paid by Smith.
Smith gets paid because he talks Wenbanyana and others.
Smith owes to Wenbanyana and others his job.
Without them, he has no job.

Smith didn't "disappoint" anyone because even if he gets hurt, he can still do his job on TV(although i don't see how an entertainer can rapture his achilles but you never know).

What kind of post is this smh

Injuries are not part of the job description.
Athletes are paid for 82 games, practice and other team commitments.
If Wembanyama was never born, Stephen A Smith would still be paid exactly the same amount of money.
Stephen A Smith chose a career that wouldn't cause injuries, and is more reliant on brainpower.
If Wembanyama had the brains and personality of Stephen A Smith, he'd probably choose Stephen A Smith's job too...

[druggas]

Wemby is on a rookie contract.

Need anything else explained, Kyrie?

Should a commenter ever make more money than the player? Without the players there would be no Stephen A. Smith.

Without owners, players would be playing at the YMCA for free.

[KGtabake]

Stephen A Smith turns up to work and does his job, delivering exactly what his employer wants.
Kyrie Irving has disappointed his employer time and time again, and already Wembanyama has disappointed his employer too...

Wenbanyana has disappointed his employer because he got injuries?
He's an ATHLETE.
Athletes get injured, it's part of the job description.
Wenbanyana isn't get paid by Smith.
Smith gets paid because he talks Wenbanyana and others.
Smith owes to Wenbanyana and others his job.
Without them, he has no job.

Smith didn't "disappoint" anyone because even if he gets hurt, he can still do his job on TV(although i don't see how an entertainer can rapture his achilles but you never know).

What kind of post is this smh

Injuries are not part of the job description.
Athletes are paid for 82 games, practice and other team commitments.
If Wembanyama was never born, Stephen A Smith would still be paid exactly the same amount of money.
Stephen A Smith chose a career that wouldn't cause injuries, and is more reliant on brainpower.
If Wembanyama had the brains and personality of Stephen A Smith, he'd probably choose Stephen A Smith's job too...

Injuries are not part of sports?

[Dennis 37]

Sports "analysts" is a stupid job.

Let's be real about majority of American "news" media.

It is not made to inform or entertain but to incite.

It's crazy to me that people that speak at a 6th grade level and not even knee deep about a subject are called "analysts" or journalists.

Nobody is analyzing anything. Nobody is saying anything worthwhile that the consumer has to sit and think about.

They are just talking crap with a producer telling them what to say, so they can sell ads.

So, yes, Stephen A. Smith and his ilk, don't deserve any money. In an educated society, such jobs wouldn't exist.

No such thing as a sports analyst or a political analyst. They are selling ads by incitement.

This video, although not basketball, is sports analysis. It is so hard to find this level of analysis from sports media personalities.

Watch on YouTube

[bonita_the_frog]

Wenbanyana has disappointed his employer because he got injuries?
He's an ATHLETE.
Athletes get injured, it's part of the job description.
Wenbanyana isn't get paid by Smith.
Smith gets paid because he talks Wenbanyana and others.
Smith owes to Wenbanyana and others his job.
Without them, he has no job.

Smith didn't "disappoint" anyone because even if he gets hurt, he can still do his job on TV(although i don't see how an entertainer can rapture his achilles but you never know).

What kind of post is this smh

Injuries are not part of the job description.
Athletes are paid for 82 games, practice and other team commitments.
If Wembanyama was never born, Stephen A Smith would still be paid exactly the same amount of money.
Stephen A Smith chose a career that wouldn't cause injuries, and is more reliant on brainpower.
If Wembanyama had the brains and personality of Stephen A Smith, he'd probably choose Stephen A Smith's job too...

Injuries are not part of sports?

You said injuries were part of the job description.
When a player is signed to a contract, they are signed to play, not to get injured and miss games.

[Fairview4Life]

Kyrie wouldn’t be as highly regarded as he is if it weren’t for network talking heads that just rate players on iso ability and highlights.

Oddly enough, Kyrie is much more highly regarded by his fellow players than he is by the media or fans.

[Big_Aristotle]

Kyrie is absolutely right. 100%

People in the media just talk about sports and keep people "entertained". It's the law of supply and demand. The issue is not ESPN or Stephen A. Smith but all the people that listen and tune in to idiots like him. They provide ESPN the views/clicks (equals money) to pay him a salary like that. And looking at this thread, there is plenty of supply.

[Big_Aristotle]

It's not simple economics though. Stephen A operates in a free market, Wemby does not. Wemby gets what he gets because the NBA (CBA) dictates exactly how much Wemby earns. Even if Wemby would bring the Spurs 10 billion in revenue due to jersey sales etc., he would get the exact same amount he currently gets.

It is simple economics.

You are right about Wemby's situation due to the salary cap, but in a comparison there are two sides. The amount of money that the media personality makes in the comparison is stupid and 100% driven by simple economics. Wemby's situation doesn't change any of that.

I understand that in a free market Wemby would make more, and much more than Stephen A. Smith. But still Stephen A. Smith gets paid way too much for the job he does.

[bonita_the_frog]

Kyrie is absolutely right. 100%

People in the media just talk about sports and keep people "entertained". It's the law of supply and demand. The issue is not ESPN or Stephen A. Smith but all the people that listen and tune in to idiots like him. They provide ESPN the views/clicks (equals money) to pay him a salary like that. And looking at this thread, there is plenty of supply.

But Kyrie is known for being an idiot, whereas Stephen A Smith is known for having the best personality on ESPN (even though i like Chris Russo more).
You can call Stephen A Smith an idiot, but you'd have to call Will Ferrell and other legendary comedy actors an idiot too, because that's all Stephen A Smith is doing... acting.

[the_process]

Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.

Via Basket News:

NBA star questions analyst’s salary compared to Wemby
2025 July 12 14:17

Kyrie Irving called out Stephen A. Smith’s $25 million ESPN contract during a Twitch stream, arguing sports analysts deserve the same public criticism as NBA players when they underperform. He challenged the double standard in media coverage of athlete salaries and value.

Kyrie Irving has never been shy about speaking his mind, and now that he’s active on Twitch while rehabbing a torn ACL, he’s using the platform to dive deeper into basketball debates—and challenge the sports media status quo.

Recently, Irving took aim at the way sports analysts critique NBA players’ salaries, calling out what he sees as a double standard. His example? ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.

“I’m going to discuss Stephen A’s contract, and I’m going to say he’s not worth it,” Kyrie said bluntly on stream. “Obviously, Stephen A., this is for an [example],” he clarified, making clear it wasn’t a personal attack—just a point about fairness.

For years, players have been criticized by fans and pundits alike for failing to live up to big contracts. Washington’s Bradley Beal has become the face of this conversation, earning over $53 million this season while averaging just 17 points per game. But as Irving noted, fans tend to follow the lead of major media personalities.

“Sheep will follow the shepherd,” he remarked, arguing that if analysts want to publicly scrutinize players' performance versus pay, their own earnings should also be fair game.

Smith, arguably the most recognizable name in sports broadcasting, recently signed a five-year, $25 million contract with ESPN. That’s more annually than Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ rising star, who’s making $13.7 million.

“Does Smith deserve to earn more than Wemby?” Kyrie asked rhetorically—highlighting the strange optics of a broadcaster out-earning a generational basketball talent.

Irving’s main point was about accountability. If players are criticized for not delivering on their contracts, analysts should also face scrutiny when they offer poor takes or get things wrong—something fans have often accused Smith of.

In a new era where athletes have their own platforms and can speak directly to fans, the traditional role of sports analysts is being questioned. Irving’s take may be bold, but he’s far from alone in thinking it’s time to challenge the narrative.

Do any pro athletes really deserve 8 figures annually for playing a game, Kyrie?

For that matter, do actors deserve that for playing dress up and pretend?

No is the across the board answer. But people pay to be entertained so here we are. Stephen A does as much entertaining as any of them. You can critique any of them. But it's easier to go after the players because their play is usually objectively good or bad, rather than going after an opinion which is much more subjective.