“Once in a generation bag getter” – Stephen A. Smith looking to replace Jimmy Kimmel as late-night host has basketball fans in splits

Jimmy Kimmel has hinted at retiring after his contract runs out in 2026.

“Once in a generation bag getter” – Stephen A. Smith looking to replace Jimmy Kimmel as late-night host has basketball fans in splits

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith could take over as host of late-night show after Jimmy Kimmel retires in 2026

Stephen A. Smith has made his name in the sports broadcasting world as one of the most watched presenters. After his continued success at ESPN, the analyst has repeatedly declared his interest in moving into mainstream media as the next step in his career.

With his current contract winding down, it seems Smith might be getting a shot at replacing Jimmy Kimmel as a late-night show host. As expected, the news went instantly viral on social media platforms, eliciting a plethora of reactions online.

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For the uninitiated, Stephen A. Smith‘s contract with ESPN will expire in 2025. There are reports that he is negotiating to become the highest-paid sports broadcaster in history. However, a new development has come from Jimmy Kimmel. 

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The host of Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC hinted last month that he might be retiring once his contract expires in 2026. When Front Office Sports asked Smith about this new development, he had this to say about his desire to take over from Kimmel:

I’d be very interested in succeeding him.
Smith said

Smith did mention that his bosses will decide if he can take over from Kimmel. But his desire is apparent from this confirmation.

ESPN and ABC share the same ownership, which means Smith has a shot at replacing the multiple Emmy Award-winning host. Their contract timing is also in Smith’s favor, as he could just sign a 1-year extension. The only issue with former sports broadcasters going into mainstream media is that not many have succeeded. 

But as Front Office Sports shares, Smith has that comical vibe to him the moment he is on the screen. The New York native blends comics and relies on his discussions often. This could be a big plus for his move to Late Night talk show hosting. 

NBA fans left in splits as Stephen A. Smith gets linked to Jimmy Kimmel job

With that being said, there is no denying that Stephen A. Smith’s work as a sports analyst in the NBA and other sports leagues has entertained fans for a long time. That entertainment has helped Smith be the No. 1 sports analyst for quite a while, making him the most loved among NBA enthusiasts.

Naturally, fans will not appreciate it if Smith wants to leave the sporting world for something more mainstream. 

However, they sure found it hilarious that the ESPN analyst has openly declared his interest in taking over the late-night talk show. They took to social media to add their comments to this news. 

Sharing a wide spectrum of reactions online, here’s what fans have to say:

If the bosses at Disney allow Stephen A. Smith to take over from Jimmy Kimmel, the sporting world will lose one of their best broadcasters. However, interestingly enough, Smith will take his comedic presentation to the mainstream world. Now, with that being said it will be pretty interesting to see how fans would react to the same.

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