Stephen A. Smith’s Daughter Appearing on ESPN Ahead of Game 6 Brings out Jokes from Fans: “As a Father I’m Pleading with You”
Stephen A. Smith has taken heat for criticizing Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James and his father LeBron James.

Stephen A. Smith brought his daughter Samantha on ESPN broadcasts (Image via FirstSportz)
Stephen A. Smith has been on the offensive against LeBron James ever since the Los Angeles Lakers superstar confronted the ESPN analyst for comments about his son, Bronny James. That confrontation seemed to have hit a nerve as the 57-year-old has been on a streak.
He appeared on several shows to berate the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Smith even took to right-wing platforms to garner support for his political ambitions, knowing most of them do not like the Democrat supporting James.
Since then, the four-time NBA champion has used another ESPN program, The Pat McAfee Show, to troll Smith. That took a turn for the worse, as the ticked-off analyst then resorted to unverified claims involving Kobe Bryant‘s memorial and Dwyane Wade‘s Hall of Fame ceremony to get back at James.
Those moves ended up backfiring, and Smith had to apologize. However, that did not stop the ESPN analyst from further taking shots at the Lakers’ superstar. The most recent was when he reiterated that he does not like the 40-year-old superstar.
In addition, Smith claimed that the oldest player in the league was hiding behind his son, Bronny James, to defend criticism that was initially directed towards him. Now, it seems those claims have swung around against him.
Stephen A Smith's daughter Samantha embarrasses him on live TV, put her on the halftime show pic.twitter.com/fzN6sTawG2
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) June 19, 2025
The ESPN analyst was previewing Game 6 of the NBA Finals and Elle Duncan inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse when his daughter, Samantha, came to talk to them. Stephen A. Smith‘s daughter seemingly embarrassed her analyst father, but it was how fans reacted to this that is blowing up social media.
Fans take shots at Stephen A. Smith for bringing daughter on ESPN
Basketball fans watching this clip instantly tried to remind Stephen A. Smith of his comments regarding Bronny James and his father, LeBron James. They believe he is doing exactly what he was criticizing about the Los Angeles Lakers’ rookie.

Fans believe the 57-year-old is doing things that are continuously causing him to lose credibility. On one hand, he criticizes James Jr. and other players, and at the same time, he is seemingly promoting his daughter to be a future employee at ESPN. Check out examples of those reactions below.
As a father… Stephen A… I’m pleading with you. Please, don’t let her steal your moment. You’ve worked too hard, too long, wearing pink suits on national TV, to have your own daughter outshine you mid-segment. Let you be you. Let her wait ‘til commercial. Respectfully. https://t.co/uTwxoZCX5a
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) June 19, 2025
Classic bring your kid around when the heat is getting too hot.
— Bargain Benny (@EightballCNU) June 19, 2025
Funny cause he said Bron was using Bronny to hide behind lmaooo
What a mutt https://t.co/Xak7q8vjhL
human shield, i still hate him
— ehren 💂🏾♂️ (@gothemopretty) June 19, 2025
He actin like Elon now.
— BLACK &… MOSTLY Unimpressed (@ABlackEccentric) June 19, 2025
If I bring my kid out, people won’t hate me so much 🙄
Steve’s been catching heat for a while, and now ESPN’s playing the sympathy card by putting his kid on camera. We see what you’re doing.
— • (@2the_p0int) June 19, 2025
I need @KingJames to hit Stephen A with the “I’m pleading with you as a father….” line 😂
— Justin (@coachgreiner9) June 20, 2025
Bro didn’t want anyone talking about him playing solitaire during the NBA finals so he’s trying to introduce his kids to the public 😂
— Tyler Moore (@tylamooo) June 20, 2025
Aww he brought his Bronny to the game
— Bü (@SabuOfficial) June 20, 2025
In Stephen A. Smith’s defense, he has criticized those who called out nepotism when the Lakers drafted Bronny James. However, he has since been on the offensive when it comes to the James’, and that is what fans believe undermines whatever he is doing for his daughter.
Stephen A. Smith’s daughter picks OKC to win
Stephen A. Smith’s daughter, Samantha Smith, was hanging around Gainbridge Fieldhouse, talking to all the ESPN analysts before the game. When her father took to the NBA Countdown booth, she was again wired up to make another appearance.
When host Malika Andrews asked who Samantha Smith was picking to win Game 6, she went with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This was contradictory to her father, who picked the Indiana Pacers to win this game and push it to Game 7.
Samantha Smith, Stephen A's daughter, goes against her dad and picks the Thunder to close out the series tonight 👀
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 20, 2025
📺 Game 6 NOW on ABC pic.twitter.com/UMTGKGwVGf
All that time, Smith kept quiet as she let his daughter have her moment in front of the camera. Then he was further embarrassed that his colleagues, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins, joked that they prefer Samantha over her father, as she does not talk as much.
Even if these were two minor appearances, these clips proved to fans that the recently extended Stephen A. Smith is helping his daughter get her feet wet in the least obtrusive way he can. Considering how he has succeeded in this profession, it seems he wants his daughter to follow in his footsteps.
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