Less than three months into his tenure on First Take, Chris Russo found himself embroiled in a controversy with Draymond Green that required assistance from Stephen A. Smith. Russo and Smith appeared on The Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM Wednesday morning, where Russo reflected on a past incident to illustrate Smith’s value as a partner.
“A couple of years ago, I got wordy and got myself in trouble on the show while discussing Draymond Green of the Warriors,” Russo recalled. “I used a term that Laura Ingraham uses on Fox — the ‘shut up and dribble’ phrase associated with LeBron. JJ Redick was on, and he jumped on me pretty good.”
“People on Fox News talk about athletes that way.”
— Former NBA player @jj_redick snaps at sportscaster Chris Russo after he says Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green should be quiet and play. pic.twitter.com/EgRqLHXEAt
— The Recount (@therecount) May 4, 2022
During that May 4, 2022 discussion, Russo said “shut up and play” following Green’s ejection from Game 1 of the playoffs. Redick countered harshly, stating, “That has the same sort of connotations that the ‘shut up and dribble’ crowd has toward athletes, and I have a real problem with that.” He added, “The people on Fox News talk about athletes that way.” This remark referenced Ingraham’s infamous comment to LeBron James in 2018 to “Shut up and dribble.”
Reflecting on the incident, Russo said Redick “put me on the defensive,” adding, “I laid low, but Stevie had my back. ‘JJ, that’s not what he meant.’ But that bothered a lot of Chris Russo fans.” In the wake of Russo’s “shut up and play” comment, Green criticized it on his podcast, claiming it “definitely had a racist connotation.” While Russo dismissed any racial implications during his original debate with Redick, the situation was clearly complicated.
“A month later, we had the Uvalde shooting,” Russo continued. “Steve Kerr of the Warriors, the night before, stormed off the postgame interview in tears, saying ‘This has got to stop. Gun control.’ This was Tuesday, and I was on Wednesday. When Molly Qerim asked Stephen A. his opinion on it, he paused for five seconds before he turned to me, likely to help me recover from the JJ Redick debacle. I spoke about it for about three minutes, which garnered 12 million hits.” Smith deliberately created this moment for Russo, understanding the fallout from the previous episode. “Stephen A. gave me that forum to express my views on gun control because he knew my position was the opposite of many Republicans,” Russo said. “That’s how great a partner Stephen A. is.”
“I know JJ Redick didn’t mean any harm,” Smith added. “But it took on a life of its own, with accusations of racial insensitivity directed at Doggie. My attitude was, first, that’s not true, and second, he’s my partner, and I’m not going to let anyone attack him like that.” Smith also recounted an encounter in 2007 after Quite Frankly was canceled, when a white individual told him, ‘There were times, Stephen, that I didn’t feel invited.’
“I always remembered that,” said Smith. “I pride myself on being a fair-minded individual. When you meet good people, especially teammates, you stand up for them and recognize their contributions. I anticipated my stance on the Uvalde incident, and I wanted the audience to hear from someone else.” Nearly three years later, Russo and Smith continue to thrive together on First Take every Wednesday, with Smith playing a crucial role in helping ESPN’s audience embrace Russo’s unique style.
