Some associated with ESPN’s First Take have reportedly developed a “Mr. Greedy” nickname for Stephen A. Smith. However, Matt Barnes is seeing beyond that. As most fans would know, the 56-year-old ESPN analyst has been pushing for a $100 million deal with ESPN. Considering that he brings significant traction, it seems a justified demand. But is that the case with everyone? As per an article by The US Sun, some journalists have spoken about their fears associated with Smith landing the deal. They believe Smith has been quite adamant about his demands and is almost campaigning for it. So the network will most likely agree to it.

With a lot of the show’s budget taken up by Smith, ESPN may lay off multiple journalists and other members. Thus, the “Mr. Greedy” nickname for the 56-year-old by the said members who spoke to The US Sun. However, amid all of this, former LA Lakers star, Matt Barnes, has found something in this deal that benefits not just him but the sports media as a whole.

Matt Barnes’ positive outlook regarding Smith’s potential deal with ESPN

The former NBA star, like many others in the sports media industry, sees the deal as a win. Not just for Smith, but for everyone who is in the field. The 14-year NBA veteran, who himself transitioned to sports media after hanging up his sneakers in 2017, is rooting for Smith to land what’s reported to be a $100 million contract with ESPN. But why such enthusiasm for someone else’s contract, you ask?

Well, for All The Smoke podcast co-host, this is the kind of success that can uplift the entire industry. “When I see that, I applaud it,” he told Front Office Sports. “Stephen A. is one of the biggest personalities out there, and if he’s able to secure a $100 million deal, it’s incredible.” Notably, Smith’s current deal with ESPN will come to an end in 2025. And it’s not as if the network has not already tried to make him stay.

As per reports, ESPN had earlier offered Smith a 5 year, $90 million deal, which he declined. As per John Ourand of Puck News, the executives at ESPN told the 56-year-old that he will be the network’s highest-paid star with this $18 million per year (for 5 years) deal, earning even more than Monday Night Football’s Troy Aikman or Joe Buck. But Smith clearly didn’t want to settle for just this.

Matt Barnes had, however, congratulated Smith on hearing the news of the $90 million contract, as revealed by the ex-NBA star on one of his podcast episodes. And when the 56-year-old analyst told him he declined the offer, Barnes knew there was more to come. “… Because he’s a commodity. I think ESPN is gonna have to break the bank for him,” he said on the podcast. Barnes knows from experience that when top talents like Smith get these big contracts, the ripple effect is real.

The bigger the money gets for the stars, the bigger it can get for everyone else. “There’s still friendly competition on this side of the game as well because as the money gets bigger for the game, that means the money is going to get bigger for the media,” he said. And he’s got a point.

With figures like Pat McAfee also signing huge deals, the market value for sports media personalities is clearly on the rise. For Barnes and others in the industry, Smith’s success isn’t just something to cheer on. It’s something that could change the game for them too. No wonder that even the voices that remain in conflict with Smith supported him for the betterment of the sports media industry as a whole.

Stephen Jackson’s support to Stephen A. Smith’s chances at the $100 million deal

During the aforementioned episode of All The Smoke podcast, Barnes, after urging ESPN to break the bank for Smith, had asked his co-host for his opinion on the potential big deal. Now, if you’ve been keeping up, you might know that Jackson and Smith haven’t exactly been on great terms.

Jackson even called him a “snitch” during the Russell Westbrook incident. But what’s fascinating is that despite their differences, the ex-NBA star was still rooting for Smith to secure the bag. He made it clear that, in his eyes, it’s never right to hate someone for getting paid.

Jack further pointed out that networks like Fox are throwing huge deals—like Tom Brady’s reported $375 million—to former athletes. So why shouldn’t Smith get his share of the pie? Jackson’s take was pretty straightforward–“Let us get some of that money too.”

The fact that not just Matt Barnes but even one of Smith’s biggest critics at the moment finds this deal to be positive speaks volumes about it. As far as the tag of “Mr. Greedy” is concerned, it’s true that the show’s budget limitations could have adverse effects on others at ESPN if the deal were to come into place. But expecting someone to not ask for his true worth does not seem fair either, does it?