- Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe will coach the celebrity game
- Smith claimed he fell due to a wet surface while shooting with Micah Parsons
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Molly Qerim revealed that a crossover from Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parson sent Stephen A. Smith to the hospital ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend.
Smith apparently had to get an X-ray after the accident occurred while preparing for the All-Star Celebrity Game in Indiana. On Friday, the First Take host started the program with the news because Smith was unable to attend the opening segment.
“This was not confirmed by Adrian Wojnarowski, this is what I was told by Stephen A,” Qerim said. “If he wants to change the story when he gets here, that’s fine. This is what I understand. Stephen A. Smith will be one of the coaches in tonight’s Celebrity All-Star Game.
“So yesterday SA had to go there and they had a practice. So he started messing around with Micah Parsons. Micah talked him into it and all I know is that Stephen A is in the hospital getting x-rays right now.”
The two interacted when Parsons coach Shannon Sharpe didn’t show their practice Thursday. As a result, Smith decided to have a little fun with the Cowboys star on the field, while also scouting the opposition.
Stephen A. Smith was taken to the hospital after a basketball accident with Micah Parsons
Molley Qerim reported that Smith fell from a crossover from the Dallas Cowboys linebacker
Although the reported incident was not documented, Smith posted video from the practice in which he revealed how they planned to guard Parsons. Smith argued that Parsons’ linebacker tendencies will make it easy to draw offensive mistakes from him.
When Smith joined the First Take crew later in the program, he told a different story. He did not deny being taken to hospital early on Friday, but cited a wet surface as the reason.
“Damn Micah Parsons is standing on the basketball court pretending to sack quarterbacks and pushing people around,” Smith said.
“He and I were shooting, shooting into each other. And it was some sweat on the floor. I was literally about to stop shooting (and) I literally busted my ass. Feet fly in the air and ‘bam’.
Smith will coach the Celebrity All-Star Game opposite First Take co-host Shannon Sharpe
Smith went on to explain how he got up and continued shooting, but started feeling uncomfortable in the middle of the night. He then praised the NBA for quickly sending him a doctor after he said he couldn’t walk in pain.
With no serious injuries, Smith has been fitted with a brace and boot as he prepares to take on Sharpe and Parsons. Team Smith features WNBA star Natasha Cloud and NFL players Mecole Hardman and CJ Stroud.
Meanwhile, Puka Nacua, Conor Dally and Jewel Lloyd are among Parsons’ comrades on Team Sharpe. Both sides also have big names in entertainment, music and social media filling their rosters.
“I have to see who I’m going to play and who I’m going to bench,” Smith said. “I’m not losing this match tonight, okay?”
“You should have stuck with my story,” Qerim replied.