Stephen A. Smith names Kevin Garnett as a dream ‘First Take’ debate partner: ‘A real one’

Stephen A. Smith knows who his debate dream team would be. 

The famed sports talk host has made an art out of debating anyone on a wide variety of sports topics.

Naturally, during an appearance on “Podcast P with Paul George” Smith was asked what former NBA player he would want to go up against in a debate. 

Smith came back with two names. 

“The obvious answer would be Charles Barkley because of what we see him do,” the “First Take” co-host responded. “We see him on TNT for so long, we forget; the brother is a Hall of Famer and one of the all-time greats.”

Barkley has long been one of the shining stars on the NBA on TNT, so the answer wasn’t that much of a surprise as Smith alluded to.

Even former sparring partner Skip Bayless listed Barkley as his top choice to go against in a sports debate. 

However, there was another former NBA star that Smith deemed as someone he’d love to verbally spar with in a sports debate. 

“I would tell you this, the person that I would love to sit on a set with me or across from me any day of the week is Kevin Garnett,” Smith said. “Cause he’s a real one. First of all, being real is one thing, but your ability to articulate your position with presence and force matters. 

“Now we would have to talk to KG because FCC airwaves, this brother sometimes doesn’t pay attention to that but that’s the deal with him.”

Smith regularly goes head-to-head with some former NBA players on ESPN’s airwaves, which include Kendrick Perkins and JJ Reddick.

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Dan Orlovsky, Domonique Foxworth, Kimberley Martin, Marcus Spears, Mina Kimes, and Ryan Clark are also regular contributors on “First Take.” 

There’s no doubt that Barkley and Garnett jawing back and forth with Smith would make for some interesting viewing.