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Stephen A. names the REAL ISSUE plaguing the NBA … and it’s NOT tanking? πŸ“‰ | First Take

Stephen A. Smith, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Vincent Goodwill join Shae Cornette on First Take to debate the tanking issue around the league. 0:00 Mark Cuban’s opinion on tanking 2:46 Mad Dog’s thoughts 4:50 Stephen A. chimes in 7:43 What the Utah Jazz did 9:07 All-Star Weekend improvements βœ”οΈ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: #ESPN…

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Stephen A. Smith, Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and Vincent Goodwill join Shae Cornette on First Take to debate the tanking issue around the league.

0:00 Mark Cuban’s opinion on tanking
2:46 Mad Dog’s thoughts
4:50 Stephen A. chimes in
7:43 What the Utah Jazz did
9:07 All-Star Weekend improvements

βœ”οΈ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited:

#ESPN #NBA

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28 Comments

28 Comments

  1. @BWalters-j1b

    February 18, 2026 at 7:49 pm

    Wooo SAS I lived in Dallas and Mark Cuban does not do a DAM THING for the fans or the city.

  2. @bangeralertentertainment

    February 18, 2026 at 8:08 pm

    Who is this diet Stephan A

  3. @AllegiantRaider

    February 18, 2026 at 8:09 pm

    Anybody miss Molly Qerim yet? πŸ˜…

    • @HHHPedigrees

      February 18, 2026 at 10:28 pm

      She’s better looking than this Erika Kirk lookalike they have now

  4. @jerrymunder1660

    February 18, 2026 at 8:10 pm

    Retain the draft. But have the worst ten teams at about the 65th or 56th game play a double or triple round robin games between themselves. Records at the end will be basis of draft ranking, higher the win the higher the draft rank.

  5. @randomdude12370

    February 18, 2026 at 8:13 pm

    So even when you’re not talking about LeBron you’re still posting LeBron?

  6. @SaltyJazz-g2b

    February 18, 2026 at 8:16 pm

    Thanks Mark Cuban. Let these hypocrites with their double standards carry their water for Adam Silver. “Let em’ know!!!”

  7. @SaltyJazz-g2b

    February 18, 2026 at 8:17 pm

    You can thank Greg Poppivich for the ” load management ” problem and the Tanking issue.

  8. @joseph-h3r6q

    February 18, 2026 at 8:19 pm

    Uiii

  9. @juanherrera1726

    February 18, 2026 at 8:20 pm

    The fix? Have fireworks and music go off for dunking… Just like allstar dunk contest. The 3 is the problem, make them go in the paint and set bonus per dunk / blocks

  10. @Limitlessable

    February 18, 2026 at 8:25 pm

    How come every time someone calls out gambling Stephen A. disagrees and tries to overthrow the take πŸ˜‚

  11. @nicholasedwards818

    February 18, 2026 at 8:26 pm

    I don’t know anyone that actually watches basketball games

  12. @Mhart1976

    February 18, 2026 at 8:29 pm

    Are we not going to address when the top teams, that have locked up their playoff spot, start resting players for the playoffs. Those games at the end of the season suck.

  13. @nicholasbeverly984

    February 18, 2026 at 8:36 pm

    Ok the problem with the current NBA is tanking and rest management which all began with LeBron James and his crew it won’t change until some of younger stars decide to stop

  14. @Tunez74

    February 18, 2026 at 8:43 pm

    SAS and others are slow. In order for people to see the entertainment they must be able to afford it right???? How you gonna say people paid already for things when next month they won’t have it? People are being priced out physically and digitally and the rich will not fill those seats on a nightly basis to see β€˜competition’. πŸ˜’

  15. @tosinbalogun1013

    February 18, 2026 at 8:44 pm

    Awarding lottery picks for the poor teams is the issue the winners of regular season and finals should get a spot in the lottery and if the regular season and finals is the same winner then a spot should be opened to the 2nd best team.

  16. @URBANLEGEND543

    February 18, 2026 at 8:50 pm

    Why is LeBron on thumbnail?

    • @Bingbongboi365

      February 18, 2026 at 9:15 pm

      Probably to get you to comment for engagement, dumbie

  17. @eddiemars91

    February 18, 2026 at 9:17 pm

    No I said this before i said it again. How you ended a season should not effect your odds in the draft. It should be a lottery with each team having the same 1 in 30 odds

  18. @rezasanjari3305

    February 18, 2026 at 9:19 pm

    Cuban always been an idiot

  19. @YAniqueDuke

    February 18, 2026 at 9:35 pm

    Everyone always says no one cares about the Nets on repeat. If no one cared, then you wouldn’t have to say it. And they wouldn’t fill the Barclay’s Center.

  20. @Augusto0926

    February 18, 2026 at 9:44 pm

    Nah he NAILED Cuban with the discount on tickets πŸ˜‚

  21. @CapersTV

    February 18, 2026 at 9:44 pm

    9:26 β€œi love Leonard” πŸ˜‚ no one calls him Leonard lol

  22. @JoeyGatsby

    February 18, 2026 at 9:49 pm

    Guess LeBron the face of the league. Because why he in the thumbnail

    • @HHHPedigrees

      February 18, 2026 at 10:26 pm

      Face of load management. He missed half of the season to pout about the Lakers not resigning him

  23. @priztucker

    February 18, 2026 at 9:52 pm

    PHILADELPHIA tanked for 10 years to end up where they are. That needs to be studied.

  24. @HHHPedigrees

    February 18, 2026 at 10:22 pm

    NBA should just inform the fans which games is not worth buying tickets for. Utterly ridiculous.

  25. @Lazaven

    February 18, 2026 at 10:24 pm

    I don’t know who that random guy is with the cream suit, but they need to get him off the show ASAP

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BIGGER DEAL? Lakers WINNING STREAK or Knicks LOSING STREAK | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo join Shae Cornette to discuss the latest storylines in the NBA, including: 0:00 Lakers & Knicks 1:30 Are you concerned? 5:23 Stephen A. weighs in 8:30 Mad Dog responds 9:45 Luka Doncic scores 42 10:45 LeBron as an unrestricted free agent 13:39 LeBron leaving the…

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On First Take, Stephen A. and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo join Shae Cornette to discuss the latest storylines in the NBA, including:

0:00 Lakers & Knicks
1:30 Are you concerned?
5:23 Stephen A. weighs in
8:30 Mad Dog responds
9:45 Luka Doncic scores 42
10:45 LeBron as an unrestricted free agent
13:39 LeBron leaving the Lakers?
14:45 Cavs winning a championship?

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#ESPN #NBA

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Stephen A. responds to Bulls waiving Jaden Ivey following anti-gay comments | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith reacts to the Chicago Bulls waiving Jaden Ivey following his anti-gay comments. βœ”οΈ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: #ESPN

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On First Take, Stephen A. Smith reacts to the Chicago Bulls waiving Jaden Ivey following his anti-gay comments.

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Wemby is Defensive Player of the Year, there’s nothing to think about! πŸ’₯ – Stephen A. | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins join Shae Cornette to decide between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama to win NBA MVP. 0:00 SGA’s MVP thoughts 1:52 Big Perk’s decision 3:16 Stephen A. weighs in 7:33 Joe Mazzulla’s comments 9:28 Agree or disagree? βœ”οΈ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: #ESPN #NBA #FirstTake

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On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins join Shae Cornette to decide between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama to win NBA MVP.

0:00 SGA’s MVP thoughts
1:52 Big Perk’s decision
3:16 Stephen A. weighs in
7:33 Joe Mazzulla’s comments
9:28 Agree or disagree?

βœ”οΈ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited:

#ESPN #NBA #FirstTake

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