A former ESPN colleague of Stephen A. Smith isn’t surprised by his viral take on the city of Memphis or the backlash it’s received. Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz spoke out about Smith’s recent comments during a radio interview Tuesday, June 17. Fitz currently works at Yahoo Sports and also hosts a Saturday morning show on Fox Sports Radio.
‘Eats and Breathes Stereotypes’: Former ESPN Analyst Jason Fitz Lays Truth Bare About Stephen A. Smith’s Takes
ESPN host and analyst Stephen A. Smith has gone viral again, this time for alleging that NBA players didn’t want to play in Memphis over safety concerns. The comments came after the Grizzlies traded forward Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic.
They drew backlash from Bane, followed by critiques from Ja Morant and even sports commentator Bill Simmons. But a more pointed criticism came from Jason Fitz, who once worked at ESPN and had firsthand knowledge of Smith’s process and preparation. Fitz shared his thoughts on the “Jason & John” show on Memphis’ 92.9 radio on Tuesday.
He began by acknowledging Smith’s ability to generate views and engagement as one of sports media’s biggest personalities. But Fitz also shed light on what he called Smith’s lack of preparation. “Stephen A. is one of the least prepared people I’ve ever worked with in my entire career,” he said, referencing how before his layoff from ESPN in 2023, he worked 80-hour weeks producing and appearing in content across multiple platforms.
“Stephen A. has a staff and info group that feeds him information so that he can have somewhat informed opinions, and they’re usually not because he works too hard to actually watch any games,” Fitz said.
“Now, Stephen A. is busier than I ever was. We see him making content 24/7. So I guess my question to people in Memphis is, how much Memphis do you think he’s actually absorbed? And I mean all of it. Memphis culture, Memphis basketball.”
In the now-viral clip from Monday’s, June 16, episode of “First Take,” Smith alleged that NBA players were reluctant. “You gonna tell folks why nobody wants to be in Memphis? Or you want me to do it?” he asked NBA veteran Marcus Morris, who said players just need to adjust to the environment based on his time with the team.
“You gonna tell folks why nobody wants to be in Memphis? Or you want me to do it?” “Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis.” – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/qD9UjV5ZV4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2025
“There’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis,” Smith said to Markieff Morris during the segment. “You gotta clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players.” Butler did go on record as preferring not to play for the Grizzlies before being traded to the Golden State Warriors, but he never cited safety concerns as a reason.
“Stephen A. walks and talks and lives and eats and breathes stereotypes,” Fitz added on the podcast. “That’s all he knows. Frankly, he has to talk about the city of Memphis because my guy hasn’t watched a single Memphis basketball game in probably three years.”
“What the hell does Stephen A. know about the city of Memphis? And the answer to that is only what his friends or his people on his phone tweet him or text him. That’s all he knows. He is so separated from actual reality. What does he know?”
The First Take host’s comments also drew a response from Memphis Mayor Paul Young, who invited Smith to the city. Smith accepted in a post on X, wrting, “Progress is what life is all about, and when it comes to Memphis, where some dear friends of mine reside, I wish for nothing less. The people deserve nothing less.”
