One of the more popular new additions to the world of sports commentating and analysis has been the “Manningcast” show, which is co-hosted by former NFL quarterbacks and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning.
In an attempt to piggyback off of that success, it looks like the company behind “Manningcast,” Omaha Productions, will now set its sights on the NBA.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith will soon start his own NBA broadcast show.
Payton Manning's company will use Stephen A. Smith (and guests) to call four NBA games on alternate telecasts on ESPN2 this calendar year, much like the Manning brothers do on 10 MNF games last season and this season. Traditional broadcasts of those four games will air on ESPN.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 20, 2022
Smith is known as one of the hardest working people in all of sports media, and this new gig will surely only help him keep that reputation. Smith’s first big break came all the way back in 1994 when he started as a writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
His television career began in 1999, and his radio career began in 2005. He joined ESPN in the early 2000s.
Since then, his influence in the world of sports has only grown.
These days, he co-hosts ESPN’s “First Take” and appears on a number of different programs produced by the sports entertainment giant.
While his upcoming broadcasts will cover just four games this calendar year, it seems likely that more broadcasts could be in store if all goes well.
In his career, Smith has been known for his excitable personality, passionate declarations and incredibly entertaining and eloquent tirades. Surely, fans who tune into his upcoming NBA broadcasts will be looking for all that and more.
It will be interesting to see what more fans learn about these upcoming broadcasts as they approach. Surely, Smith will be joined by one or more fellow commentators in the booth. Whoever that ends up being, they’ll have to be sure that they are able to bring passion and energy at all times to keep up with Smith’s iconic style of sports analysis.
