The First Take show has felt off for the past few days. And the only reason was the absence of Stephen A. Smith. Without his piercing voice and energetic presentation, First Take lacked the usual zeal it presents to its vast audience. The obvious question? Where was the ESPN veteran? No answers have emerged so far, as the hosts did their best to reassure everyone that nothing was out of the ordinary. As the curiosity turned into a feeling of unease, some new information came to light. Turns out there was a private conversation. The participants? Stephen A. Smith and one of LeBron James’ close confidants.

It’s been 35 days since the confrontation between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith, yet the discussion remains as heated as ever. It’s still one of the hottest topics in the NBA. Providing the latest update on the matter, Shannon Sharpe shared on his Nightcap podcast the conversation he had with his colleague. It all began when Stephen A. Smith criticized LeBron for getting Bronny drafted to the Lakers, claiming he wasn’t ready for the league. While no one minded his take on Bronny’s skills, dragging LeBron’s parenting into it crossed the line, leading to his confrontation with the Lakers star at the Crypto.com Arena. That’s exactly what the former NFL legend pointed out.

“LeBron has swallowed a lot of stuff for 22 years,” Sharpe stated about his friend. “For him to approach him at a public setting during a timeout of a basketball game let you know just how upset he was. He said what he said. Stephen A said he understood.” Though SAS admitted he understood, but he didn’t stop there.

That’s when Sharpe decided to take matters into his hands. “The problem that I had with Stephen A, I told Stephen A this: ‘Bro, you should have left that alone. Once you say you understood it, but when you went made the rounds and you said what you said on Gil’s Arena, and you went to other platforms, and then like you added yeast to the story, that’s where—that’s why I was out on it,'” Sharpe said.

Stephen A. has been very vocal throughout the entire drama. “I thought it was weak, I thought it was some b——-“ he said on the Gil’s Arena podcast about LeBron’s action. Since then SAS hasn’t stopped commenting on it, whether on his own show or anywhere else he went. And things have only gotten more tense. But now, it’s all quiet as he is not around.

Where is Stephen A. Smith?

Surprisingly, Stephen A. Smith has been missing from First Take since April 7th. His absence has definitely changed the vibe of the show. Without his trademark sharp takes, things have felt a bit off. And with the NBA playoffs right around the corner, it’s only natural to wonder, where did he suddenly disappear to?

It could totally just be a quick break or a little vacation before the playoff madness begins. This isn’t the first time he’s taken some time off. He did the same last season, though usually not this close to the postseason. With everything going on lately, especially the back-and-forth with LeBron James, maybe he just needed a little time to clear his head and reset.

In his place, Kendrick Perkins stepped in on Tuesday to keep the show going. The former NBA player turned analyst managed to hold down the segment, replacing Stephen A.’s list with his own top five NBA contenders for the season. While the format stayed the same, there’s no denying that First Take just didn’t have its usual spark. Hopefully, he’ll be back soon to jump back in because let’s be real, the show just doesn’t hit the same without him. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!