Stephen A. Smith Explained How Shooting Hoops With Micah Parsons Sent Him to Hospital

The First Take host had an eventful Friday morning.

Stephen A. Smith is coaching the NBA All-Star celebrity game in Indianapolis tonight, but he apparently got a little too overzealous in a practice on Thursday.

According to First Take’s Molly Qerim, Smith was playing around with Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, who is playing in the event, and Parsons put a move on Smith that sent the ESPN commentator to the hospital.

“Yesterday, S.A. had to get up to Naptown early and they had a practice, so he started messing around with Micah Parsons of all people, one of the guys on his team,” Qerim said. “Micah crossed him over, and all I know is Stephen A. is at the hospital right now getting X-rays.” 

Molly Qerim opens First Take by revealing that a Micah Parsons crossover during practice for the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game sent Stephen A. Smith to the hospital 😳 pic.twitter.com/fnBnNtpGHo

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 16, 2024

However, Smith showed up to First Take midway through Friday’s show to explain what happened from his vantage point, and he blamed sweat on the floor for his injury.

“That damn Micah Parsons is on the basketball court acting like he trying to sack quarterbacks and stuff,” Smith said. “He and I were shooting around, shooting against one another, and it was some sweat on the floor, and I was about to pull up, just shoot it, I literally bust my a--.”

‘First Take’ star Stephen A. Smith will be in a boot when he coaches the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, after being injured shooting around with Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons :: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Despite taking the fall, Smith said he didn’t feel anything until the middle of the night.

“I slipped, I bust my butt, I get up feeling alright, I’m still shooting around and stuff, I’m feeling just fine,” he said. “I go back to bed, and in the middle of the night, my ankle felt on fire.”

Smith then explained that the NBA sent a doctor to his room to check him out before sending him to the hospital, and he didn’t break anything but needs to wear a boot for now.

Smith still plans on coaching the game tonight against First Take foe Shannon Sharpe, but he may have to take it easy with an ankle injury.