For over a decade, Stephen A. Smith has been recognized as one of the faces of ESPN. Before becoming a host on “First Take,” the veteran sports broadcaster hosted “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on ESPN Radio from 2005 to 2008, per ESPN Press Room. By 2011, Smith returned to host a weekday local show on ESPN Radio 98.7FM in New York, NY, and a local show on ESPN LA 710AM in Los Angeles, CA. In an interview with “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, Smith recounted being fired from ESPN in 2009. He explained that the reason for his departure was that his contract at the time did not align with what he believed he should earn. “I thought that I deserved more than they offered,” Smith shared on “Earn Your Leisure. “I was appalled at the offer they made me. I did not like it. I did not appreciate it. I felt disrespected. And I said ‘No.’” Smith admitted that his disapproval with the offer he received was based on the acclaim and accolades that were pouring in for him. However, he says when he...

The Antetokounmpo family doesn’t play when it comes to their own. Nike has been a long supporter of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family since the very beginning of his career in 2013, and it’s also what encouraged the NBA superstar to pass on another endorsement deal with one of the athletic apparel company’s competitors. According to Bleacher Report, during an appearance on the “Thanalysis Show,” Antetokounmpo recalled the moment he decided to walk away from a deal at Adidas because he was in a position where he needed to help support his family. After an initial offer featuring a deal for both Giannis and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Adidas backtracked on the plan, prompting Giannis to turn down the proposal. “[An Adidas representative] brought the contract and put it in front of me, and I’m like, ‘Okay great, where is my brother’s?’” Antetokounmpo explained, per Bleacher Report. “And he was like, ‘We’re not going to sign your brother’s today. You’re going to sign yours,...

Angel Reese is heading to the WNBA. The current Louisiana State University (LSU) student, who is set to graduate on May 18, 2024, was among the 36 players to be called during the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. The event was held on Monday, April 15, 2024, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, NY, according to NBC’s local Channel 4. Reese was the No. 7 draft pick in the first of three rounds, and she will be headed to play for the Chicago Sky alongside South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, per USA Today’s For the Win. They will be guided by head coach by Teresa Weatherspoon. “ANGEL” in the SKY👼🏽💙💛 pic.twitter.com/P0h60oFSXi — Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 16, 2024 “It’s a great moment. I’m super excited to go into the W,” Reese explained during an interview on “Today.” “This has always been a dream for me and a dream come true. And then with amazing girls, only 15 girls get to be selected to come to New York and have this experience. And as a little...

Michael Jordan is still breaking records two decades after retiring.

Goalsetter is helping to bring financial literacy to the sports world in its latest partnership. The fintech platform has joined TeamSnap — a leading sports team management app — to support an increase of underserved youth having equal access to sport participation, according to a press release shared with AfroTech. The goal at hand is for the young athletes to have both physical and financial well-being. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Goalsetter (@goalsetterco)

Kevin Durant has made a new investment to advance another area of sports. Bloomberg reports Durant’s Thirty Five Ventures was a part of an investment round led by The Chernin Group for the Premier Lacrosse League with participation from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Inc. Premier Lacrosse League founders, Paul and Mike Rabil have not disclosed exact valuations. However, the number has doubled since the company’s previous funding round in 2021.

Daymond John is taking his business expertise to the sports world. According to a press release, the entrepreneur has signed on to the Board of Directors for Overtime — a sports company backed by Jeff Bezos, Drake, and more.