Stephen A. Smith finally got what he wanted. The outspoken ESPN personality just secured a five-year contract extension worth over $100 million, making him one of the highest-paid figures in sports media. His annual salary jumps from $12 million to $20 million, cementing his status as the face of First Take.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Smith’s massive deal ended up putting a certain ex-Wizards star under the spotlight. Gilbert Arenas, who has spent years defending LeBron James from criticism, recently took a surprising jab at him—all to back up Smith. Why? Well, Arenas recently made an appearance on First Take and felt he did well enough to be considered for a future role. With ESPN handing out big-money deals, Gil saw an opportunity and took his shot.
And if that happens, Smith would technically be Arenas’ “new boss”. But here’s where the twist comes in. During an episode of Gil’s Arena, his co-hosts exposed him as the “OG LeBron hater.” They reminded him of a wild moment from his playing days—the time he helped distribute Papa John’s infamous ‘Crybaby James’ t-shirts during the playoffs. Even though Arenas wasn’t playing, he wanted LeBron to feel the heat.
That stunt turned into a viral sensation. The media picked it up, and even LeBron himself took notice. Looking back, Arenas claimed it was the first real wave of criticism LeBron had ever faced. “It was a great idea because he was shocked. It was the first negative thing that ever was said about him,” the ex-Warriors star recalled.
But while the t-shirt stunt may have been a hit back then, bringing it up now? Not so much. His own podcast crew immediately called him out, questioning his sudden shift in attitude. And just like that, Gil’s past came back to haunt him. Now, the real question is—was his LeBron loyalty ever real?
Gilbert Arenas flip on LeBron James for potential “new boss”
LeBron James usually keeps his cool when it comes to the media, but last week was different. Spotting Stephen A. Smith courtside, the Lakers superstar didn’t hold back. Instead of brushing things off, he walked straight up to Smith and let him have it. The next morning on First Take, Smith addressed the heated moment.
“LeBron approached me during the game, and he said, ‘Stop effing with my son,’” Smith admitted. His only reaction? A stunned, “Na, Na, Na.” But while the internet was still processing that, Gilbert Arenas couldn’t resist jumping into the mix.
Taking to Instagram, he turned the whole thing into a joke. “My new boss man, he just signed his money man down at the goddamn game trying to enjoy himself,” Gil posted. “And you want to be Akron all of a sudden, huh? Just straight, Ohio. Just coming out of front all these white folks.”
And just to keep the trolling going, Arenas doubled down in his caption. “@kingjames I love this energy but not my new Potential Boss,” he wrote, adding, “We not playing that. Run up on us when I get hired, we ready to die for these TAKES.”
Was he serious? Probably not. But clearly, he liked seeing this version of LeBron. Why? Because, according to Gil, that kind of fire wins championships. “That’s the energy you coming with? We winning the championship! Ten toes down now, we winning the chip with this type of energy, baby,” he laughed.
So now the question is: did Arenas really betray LeBron, or is this just classic Gil stirring the pot? What do you think?
The post Stephen A. Smith’s $100M ESPN Influence Exposes Ex-Warriors Star’s “OG LeBron Hater” Era appeared first on EssentiallySports.
