Stephen A. Smith Future: Will he replace Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s late-night show?

Stephen A. Smith has made a name for himself in the NBA community for his hot takes and unique perspective. He has also been a regular analyst of Baseball, American Football, Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts on ESPN. Earlier this month, his beef with Pat McAfee went viral on Twitter, after which Smith banned McAfee from ever coming back on his show.

Smith has been a commentator on ESPN’s First Take for over 12 years, co-starring with Skip Bayless, Max Kellerman and many other recurring hosts. It looks like he’s ready to step into a new venture, as he has recently been in talks to replace Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s late-night show.

Stephen A. Smith ‘very interested’ replacing Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel has been one of the biggest stars in the world of late-night talk shows and he is reported to retire after his current contract expires in 2026, which opens the door for Stephen A. Smith for the position that many late-night talk show hosts have their eyes on.

Earlier, on The Sean Hannity Show, Smith told Sean Hannity that he believes he has potential beyond the sports world and that he would be very interested in succeeding Jimmy Kimmel, but only if his superiors at Disney, such as chairman Bob Iger, allow him to replace Kimmel as the ABC’s late-night superstar.

Stephen A. Smith wanting to host late nights is appealing to NBA fans

NBA fans that have watched Stephen A. Smith on ESPN since 2012 are definitely excited for his late-night show, as they have always enjoyed watching him. Even when he is not exactly right with his statements, the bold way in which he presents himself is fun to watch.

Smith’s news of joining late-night show has gone viral on X, with mostly positive reactions from netizens. The number of people reacting to this news tells you that his popularity is not just limited to the sporting world and that he is a major pop culture figure these days.

Stephen A. Smith is certainly a name that gets people glued to their screens, which is very rare for a sports analyst. What makes him different is his style and personality, which one can either love or hate but definitely cannot ignore.

What do you think about Stephen A. Smith getting his own late-night show? Will you watch it or skip it? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below!