ANDRAYA Carter captured the hearts of ESPN viewers during Stephen A. Smith’s unexpected absence from First Take.
Veteran sportscaster Smith, 56, took time off from the sports debate show on Tuesday.
4
4
Smith was replaced by fan favorite Carter in a reshuffled lineup.
The 30-year-old joined host Molly Qerim and co-analyst Austin Rivers at New York’s ESPN studios, sitting in Stephen A.’s coveted seat.
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and NBA Insider Brian Windhorst called in remotely to round out the panel.
“We let Stephen A. have a day off,” Molly explained to viewers seconds into the show.
“Only one! He has to fly back to the West Coast to do the [NBA playoff] game.”
“Andraya Carter in Stephen A Smith Chair. Gotta love it,” one ESPN viewer wrote on X after spotting the “new face of ESPN” in Smith’s usual position.
“Always a great morning when @Andraya_Carter talks basketball on First Take,” said another.
“@Andraya_Carter is if the spice of sugar and everything nice was a person… Keep killing it on TV,” added a third.
Carter, 30, is a rising star in ESPN’s analyst rotation.
She officially joined the team in 2018 as a gaming analyst, working primarily on the SEC Network.
Since then, she has landed studio and commentator roles in women’s college basketball and the WNBA.
The former college teammate has now signed a multi-year extension with the network.
Meanwhile, Smith splits his professional time between First Take and ABC’s NBA Countdown, which will be broadcast from Los Angeles tonight.
The sportscaster will join Malika Andrews to discuss the Indiana Pacers’ Conference Finals Game 1 matchup with the Boston Celtics.
Stephen A. was emotional on Monday’s show after the Pacers knocked the New York Knicks out of title contention.
‘You’re seeing this backwards’
MOLLY Qerim was forced to interrupt a Stephen A Smith rant on First Take and save her blushes.
Appearing virtually, Smith began berating Chris “Mad Dog” Russo for apparently sitting in his chair in the studio.
“Now I’m here in South Beach,” Smith said, “so I’m usually never grumpy.
“What the hell are these seating arrangements?
“Why aren’t you Tim Legler sitting in my chair? Why is that man, Mad Dog Russo, in my chair?!”
But Qerim intervened and said, “You’re seeing everything backwards.”
Smith realized his mistake and was left red in the face.
“The video is backwards,” replied a red-faced Smith, “They promised me they would fix it.”
The Knicks fell to a 130-109 loss at Madison Square Gaden on Sunday night.
Smith was an integral part of the ESPN broadcast, even having his entrance shown on live TV as he walked past the player’s entrance.
A day later, he pretended to cry on live TV while wearing a doctor’s uniform to lament the Knicks’ bad luck with injuries.
“I just don’t know what to say, man,” sobbed Stephen A., as co-analyst Tim Legler handed him a box of tissues.
“Have the Pacers faced Knicks players or patients in Knick uniforms?
“I’m still proud of my New York Knicks. We were almost there – we’ll be back!”
Stephen A. is expected to return to First Take on Wednesday alongside Qerim and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.
4
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
