Looking back on a particular panel ESPN had for some of their NBA coverage in May reflects poorly on the network.
Within the last several months, ESPN had Gilbert Arenas, Marcus Morris and Shannon Sharpe all providing commentary on the NBA. Take a look at this clip from May 20 where ESPN show “First Take” had Arenas and Morris serving as commentators. The clip received attention because Arenas had slighted Pascal Siakam.
Gilbert Arenas says Pascal Siakam never took that ‘leap’ in his basketball career
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 20, 2025
(🎥 @FirstTake )
pic.twitter.com/apeqYzQHuv
Fast forward to now, and the panel looks a lot worse.
Just this week, Morris was accused of stealing over $250,000 from Las Vegas casinos by writing bad checks. Then on Wednesday, Arenas was arrested for allegedly helping to run illegal poker games at a mansion he owned in the Los Angeles, Calif., area. As if that weren’t enough, also on Wednesday we learned that ESPN had parted ways with Shannon Sharpe following his settlement of a sexual misconduct case with a woman who had sued him.
Fans noted that after all the trouble involving those people, it was Stephen A. Smith who was left standing at ESPN.
Shannon Sharpe ❌
— BetHog (@playBetHog) July 31, 2025
Marcus Morris ❌
Gilbert Arenas ❌
Stephen A. Smith on his way out the office today: pic.twitter.com/MmJlBFIzJh
Shannon Sharpe..Gilbert Arenas and Marcus Morris all down bad and whos ironically UP that's connected to all three? Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/J53qAO2bOe
— Popular Introvert⚡〽️ (@svnsxtional_) July 30, 2025
Let’s take a look at some of the guys who covered the NBA last season at ESPN:
— H U N C H O (@HunchoGambles) July 30, 2025
-Shannon Sharpe (accused of rape)
-Gilbert Arenas (arrested for illegal gambling)
-Marcus Morris (arrested for stealing over $265k in Vegas casinos)
-Iman Shumpert (accused of mental & emotional abuse…
What’s transpired this week with some of their personalities reflects poorly upon the network. They do have the “Inside the NBA” team coming over, which should improve things.
