Throughout his extensive career, Stephen A. Smith has dedicated countless hours to television. Notably, he gained widespread recognition in 2013 when he famously advised then-Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner to “stay off the weed”—more precisely: “the weeeeeeeee-duh.” Since then, Smith has transformed the warning into a catchphrase, with YouTube brimming with compilations of him cautioning athletes about the perils of marijuana. Recently, however, he offered a new perspective on his unforgettable phrase, suggesting Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse should get on the weed instead.
“I’m getting concerned about Nick Nurse. You have heard me say… ‘stay off the weed.’ I’m now encouraging him to get on some based on everything I’ve heard about its benefits,” Smith remarked during a discussion with Shannon Sharpe and Tim Legler on First Take. “It’s legal in various states for recreational use, so go ahead and use it.” His intention was clear: given the dismal state of the 76ers’ current season, no one would fault Nurse for seeking some form of relief.
He elaborated, “If you see Nick Nurse getting a drink after games at a bar, don’t judge him like Jimmy the Greek. Just reflect on your history and what I mean. Let the man drink and smoke if he needs to. This coach is dealing with immense pressure; he enters the game as a champion but clearly is struggling. Nick Nurse is an exceptional coach who knows his craft well. His team’s performance doesn’t reflect his expertise as a basketball mind but rather the lack of talent, especially from those relied upon who fail to show up. I can’t imagine the level of frustration he’s experiencing.”
Stephen A. Smith: “I’m getting concerned about Nick Nurse. You have heard me say ‘stay off the weeeeed!’ I’m encouraging him to get on some based on everything that I’ve heard weed does… damn it, go ahead and use it… let him drink, let him smoke some weed… you can’t be more… pic.twitter.com/NzbhSdPFaO
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 25, 2025
Smith also underscored Joel Embiid’s recurring health issues, pointing out that the oft-injured center’s three-year, $193 million contract extension hasn’t even begun yet. This situation, in his view, adds to the grim state of the Sixers, indicating there’s “no reprieve in sight.” He even suggested that Paul George might have chosen to accept less money to stay with the Los Angeles Clippers if he had anticipated the level of performance from Embiid that was awaiting him when he joined Philadelphia as a free agent last summer.
This isn’t the first time Smith has exhibited a shifting attitude toward cannabis, which could eventually become part of his evolving platform as a potential presidential candidate. It’s essential to note that recreational marijuana remains illegal in Pennsylvania; thus, if Nick Nurse decides to take Smith’s advice, he might want to look into obtaining a prescription or waiting for the team’s road trips.
