PLAY FAIR
Stephen A. Smith’s First Take replacement makes bold LA Lakers ‘playoffs’ claim as fans gasp ‘he’s spitting facts’
LeBron James is teaming up with son Bronny in LA - but one ESPN analyst isn't convinced of success
ESPN analyst Chris Carlin is not hot on the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 51-year-old sportscaster sat in for Stephen A. Smith on Friday's edition of First Take.
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Carlin has been a feature of the sports debate show all week with Smith on vacation.
A regular on ESPN radio, the analyst has impressed fans with his takes throughout his four-day stint on the show.
As talk turned to the NBA on Friday, Carlin was asked by stand-in host Christine Williamson if we are "overblowing how bad the Lakers are?"
"I don't think we are," responded Carlin, addressing co-stars Monica McNutt and Courtney Cronin.
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"They are a whole lot more likely to miss the Play-In than reach the playoffs."
The Lakers drafted LeBron James' son Bronny in last week's NBA Draft, along with first-round pick Dalton Knecht.
While former First Take analyst JJ Redick has been named as their new coach.
"When I look at this group, I'm looking at a group that hasn't got any better than it was in this past year," Carlin continued.
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"They have a rookie head coach, who everyone believes is in LeBron's pocket.
"I think that's a little bit problematic. LeBron played 71 games last year - over the last five years before that he's averaged 55. Is that happening again?"
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Carlin went on to claim LeBron was "not a good GM," before asserting again the team could "miss the Play-In."
"Wait this guy is cooking," replied one fan on X to the exchange.
"All these LeBron narratives are hilarious," said another.
"He’s spitting facts," added a third.
"They said this last year," countered a fourth.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
The Lakers reached the postseason in 2023-24 but lost out in the first round to the Denver Nuggets.
Starman LeBron, 39, penned a $104 million deal earlier this week, signing up for another two years.
Stephen A.'s future on First Take meanwhile remains uncertain as he continues to negotiate a new deal with ESPN.
Smith's current contract expires at the end of 2025.
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He is reportedly looking for an annual salary of $25 million, per Puck.news.
The contract would make him the highest-paid analyst on the network.