Stephen A. Smith Recalls 1 Unforgettable Conversation With Kobe Bryant that Had Him ‘Dead to Rights’ (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Stephen A. Smith tells PEOPLE about a conversation he had with the late Kobe Bryant that he’ll never forget

• Smith recalled how the NBA star never let him forget about a time he teased Bryant for his outfit

• The ESPN host also spoke about his work with Lids as star of the brand’s 2025 holiday campaign

Stephen A. Smith is influenced by few when it comes to his own personal fashion choices — but when it comes to a person who’s set a style standard he’ll never forget, only one athlete comes to mind: Kobe Bryant.

The sports media personality, 58, reflected on a pivotal conversation he had with the late NBA great early in his career when speaking with PEOPLE exclusively about starring in Lids 2025 holiday campaign, and revealed the topic that has him “always thinking about” Bryant.

Smith thought of the moment when describing his style as an on-air sports broadcaster and how it’s evolved since he first entered the scene over two decades ago as an NBA analyst for NBA Shootaround (later renamed NBA Countdown) and contributor to SportsCenter.

With the regular run-ins and candid conversations Smith’s role allowed him to have with athletes, he developed a unique relationship with many of them; Bryant included. Basketball aside, the style game was a competition in itself — and the analyst once busted the longtime Laker on his.

Noam Galai/Getty

Stephen A. Smith.

“Kobe Bryant, God rest his soul, he was another one that got on me because I got on him one day about how he was rocking this outfit,” Smith tells PEOPLE. “And I’m like, ‘Eh, I don’t know,’ ” he said of Bryant’s look.

Meanwhile, Bryant was not rocking with Smith’s take.

“He looked at me and grabbed my arm,” the sports analyst recalls of the star shooting guard.

“Quote: ‘[Bryant] said, ‘Motherf—–.’ He said, ‘I’m the only athlete that’s been on the cover of GQ twice.’ Just like that,” Smith remembers of his conversation with Bryant. “And [Bryant] said, ‘Take notes.’ “

“He had me dead to rights,” admits the ESPN host. “I said, ‘Ooh.’ And sure enough, every time GQ or some fashion magazine has called me, the first person that comes to my mind is Kobe and D Wade.”

Harry How/Getty

Kobe Bryant.

He adds, “Because I’m always thinking about what Kobe said to me and I’m always thinking about how D Wade trolled me.” (Smith also shared that Dwyane Wade influenced his decision to ditch “baggy” clothing for work attire and opt for a neat, tailored look instead).

“So the very first time GQ ever did a feature on me, the first person I called was Kobe,” he tells PEOPLE. “And when that happened, [Bryant] said, ‘Are you on the cover?’ And I said, ‘No’.”

“He said, ‘Then we have nothing to talk about.’ “

Lids

Stephen A. Smith stars in Lids 2025 holiday campaign, “ALL CAPS.”

Bryant, who was selected as the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, retired in 2016 with five NBA championship rings and four NBA All-Star game MVP titles.

In January 2020, Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna Bryant. He is survived by his wife, Vanessa Bryant, and their daughters, Natalia, 22, Bianka, 8, and Capri, 6 — in addition to the legacy he’s created and his “Mamba Mentality” both on and off the court.

Smith’s interest in fashion and commitment to his own personal style is what makes his partnership with Lids so natural, not to mention fitting given the fact that organically intertwines them into his everyday wardrobe — “I wear Lids hats all the time!” he tells PEOPLE.

The brand’s holiday campaign this year, titled, “ALL CAPS,” takes influence from the sports analyst’s signature style as a broadcaster. His trademark energy and outspoken personality, for example, are at its core.

“When they called me and asked me to be a part of it, I’m like, ‘Why not?’ ” Smith says. “A match made in heaven.”

Read the original article on People