Stephen A. Smith is known for being bold, loud, and impossible to ignore on ESPN, but during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, he found himself upstaged by someone who shares his last name and apparently, his flair for the commanding the commentator spotlight.
On Juneteenth, the sports commentator brought his 17-year-old daughter Samantha to work, and let’s just say, Samantha didn’t just tag along, she took over the broadcast.
“Hi guys, I’m Samantha. I’m so happy to be here. I’ve made so many friends. This is really a great experience,” she said sweetly as she took the mic on live TV. Stephen stood beside her, beaming like a proud dad.
But Samantha wasn’t done. She later came back on-air to make her own NBA Finals prediction, choosing the Oklahoma City Thunder, while her dad was still riding for the Pacers. Fans online couldn’t get over how much Samantha mirrors her father with the facial expressions, the tone, the confidence, and definitely, the clapbacks.
The love online for the teen was instant. So much so that Smith did what most parents wouldn’t dare he handed over his show to her. Samantha took the reins of The Stephen A. Smith Show for a special father-daughter episode on YouTube, and it was a vibes all unto itself!
She opened like a total pro, recapping the NBA game before shifting gears into full Gen Z mode. From Love Island Season 7 to streamer Kai Cenat’s digital university, Samantha covered what the culture is watching and made it her own.
Then the 17-year-old looked right into the camera and said, “I really need y’all to spam these comments with ‘Bring Samantha back…’ because I really will talk about anything you guys want me to talk about. I will slow him down, I will quiet him down if that’s what you guys need…I’m open-minded.”
Not only did she come with the personality, she also came with the punchlines playfully roasting her dad’s NBA picks and his receding hairline. And of course, the comments section lit up!
One viewer wrote, “She got that Stephen A confidence, energy, and annunciation! Props!”
Another commented, “Nah! Stephen. Sammy is your shadow. She has your spirit and confidence. We need more of this. It’s a fresh act – I love it.”
“More Samantha less Stephen please,” one person wrote.
One viewer even suggested that the powers that be give Samantha her own sports show.
“She’s a natural. I can definitely see her doing a sports show for teenagers. IT WOULD EXPLODE in viewership.”
If Stephen A. is the king of hot takes, Samantha might just be the next generation’s heir to the mic. We’re here for it.
Photo Credit: Samantha Smith Instagram
