STEPHEN A. Smith came under fire from his First Take co-stars after presenting his list of top five NBA players most deserving of a statue.

The ESPN star revealed his selections on Tuesday before JJ Redick and Shannon Sharpe shared their thoughts on his effort.

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First Take analyst Stephen A. Smith presented his list of the top 5 NBA stars most deserving of a statue on TuesdayCredit: ESPN

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And JJ Redick gave him a ‘failing grade’ for not including Denver Nuggets Nikola JokicCredit: ESPN
Smith, 56, listed Giannis Antetokounmpo at No. 5, saying the Greek deserves the recognition for making the Milwaukee Bucks relevant in the post-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era.

Draymond Green and Klay Thompson came in fourth with the sportscaster saying Steph Curry wouldn’t have won four NBA championships without his Golden State Warriors teammates.

The Miami Heat-era LeBron James ranked third for taking the franchise to the NBA Finals in all four seasons he spent in South Beach, two of which ended in a title, Stephen A. said.

James made another entry at No. 2, this time for leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the first championship in franchise history in 2016 — and ending the 52-year Cleveland sports curse.

Smith wrapped up by putting Curry on top of his list.

Redick and Sharpe then ripped their First Take colleague for snubbing Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

“The fact that Jokic is not on this list, I’m going to have to give you a failing grade for this,” Redick said.

“Denver had never won a championship, period, in the franchise history.

“Nikola Jokic is the best player in that franchise’s history.”

“How is he not on this list?”

Stephen A. agreed that Jokic is the greatest Nuggets player ever.

But he stood by his picks — even when Sharpe questioned his choice of placing Antetokounmpo over Abdul-Jabbar in the hierarchy of Bucks legends.

The list also divided First Take viewers.

“The list is trash!!!!” one wrote on X.

“I give Stevie a C. List is wrong,” another added.

However, a third said: “This isn’t egregious”

And one wrote: “He ain’t lie”