Skip Bayless can’t handle Stephen A. praising Paul Pierce (2012) | First Take | ESPN Archive

Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless react to Paul Pierce’s heroics in the Boston Celitcs’ Game 2 win against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2012 NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. (8:33) Skip and Stephen A. discuss if Kobe Bryant can lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a victory in the Western Conference finals.
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[@dontfall2476]

2012 feels like 15 years ago.

[@tedgramz7073]

Don't Fall looks like it too Stephen A looks way young skip too

[@julianalthabe5694]

Yet, I feel like Kobe and Gasol happened yesterday.

[@marcomosthated9414]

I wish I could go back to 2012

[@gloq7297]

MARCOMOSTHATED facts 2012 was best year of my life😂

[@darkkiwi6312]

@@marcomosthated9414 yea 2012 was a great year

[@EazyE11]

They can hear Molly interrupting from 6yrs in the future.

[@tristandavis9335]

Molly: GUYS GUYS GUYS 🤦🤦🤦🤦🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@SirJones357]

BUT STEPHEN A! BUT STEPHEN A! BUT STEPHEN A!

[@ronaszn9728]

And the thirsty virgins in the comments defending her foolishness

[@privatemilo]

yuuup and the virgin incels attacking her

[@jakeblaze7663]

Hahaha

[@jordan12118]

Just because Paul Pierce be talking reckless on TV nowadays people forget that the Truth used to be a monster

[@fapo803]

The Truth+Jalen+Chauncey=must see TV

[@unknowntrapper2330]

Exactly bro. Lotta people only remember old pierce. Like my brother only seen him in wizards im like dude u have no idea how good he was

[@UndeadItachi2]

Paul is trolling for the most part. That's his job.

[@Fent-]

Formerly Known exactly everything he says is for ratings and people eat it up

[@CoachDarren]

Yes Paul was awesome!

[@MosheXX]

“He did the impossible and your not impressed?” Yup sounds about Skip

[@jameglittlejohn8585]

Moshé X 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@nelsonrodriguez484]

Moshé X I wanted to comment this haha typical classic SKEEEEEEUP

[@VictorChapa7]

This was the OG show

[@darnellkirkland784]

What happened to Jay Crawford

[@swazie8455]

@@darnellkirkland784 yea he should’ve never left

[@yassin6416]

the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird of sports media

[@seany1508hh]

No, skip is the jordan of sports media lol

[@brandenvibez4378]

Perfect analysis

[@MalikEmmanuel]

the Smush Parker and Water-Pistol Pete

[@lakersfansince1991]

Why do people love these two? They're just sports personalities who say things for shock value or to have a schtick.

[@Calogero17]

lakersfansince1991 your wrong and here is why

[@edenharvey9476]

"Who's Zaza?" Oh Skip, if only you knew...

[@raiderscat]

Lol

[@themagic9470]

Zaza pacheapshot

[@day-me-inmoodley3283]

Everytime I see them post a clip of skip and Stephen a, feel disappointed that we'll never see them on TV together again.

[@zee0055]

Even though I like them together...thank god we got Shannon...

[@kevinwills30]

What happened?

[@sareaper69]

Shannon is good. But Skip and Stephen A was genius. Whoever put those dudes together. Stephen A's charisma, his character's energy and delivery, and his sometimes unorthodox takes mixed with Skip's passionate and fiery delivery was genius.

[@day-me-inmoodley3283]

@@sareaper69 Jamie horowitz

[@zee0055]

@@sareaper69 hey man if you purely talk about debating I have no comeback...but Shannon showboating is on another level man.....

[@ABock4]

“Any man named Zaza is a problem.” Man, as you look back on that quote by Stephen A, it has gotten more and more true as the years have gone by.

[@Time4SumAksion021]

And in 2016 he destroyed Skip's fav franchise.

[@lakeshowbron4747]

Zaza "Pacheapshot" 😂😂😂

[@user-ts3rj1pm8j]

😂😂😂

[@antonioribeiro9182]

​@@Time4SumAksion02117 not 16

[@Time4SumAksion021]

@@antonioribeiro9182 i know, i was high probably...

[@JodeciJones]

Funniest part of this whole thing is Joe Budden being the guest of the day

[@lakeshowbron4747]

Right didn't expect that lol

[@OfficialAtak]

*Rapper Joe Budden

[@gawdlike4075]

@@OfficialAtakso joe budden

[@poppsosa6289]

Pump pump it up lol

[@MrOneanddone91]

@@poppsosa6289🤣🤣🤣

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Jesus I miss them together. They had great energy a

[@quintonmg]

kefkapalazzo1 i love and Shannon and Max but it’s not even close bro

[@TheStevensvd]

7:16 Stephen A smith predicted Zaza was going to be a problem

[@djones1943]

Hahaha

[@raiderscat]

Lol

[@Abbad1579]

🤣🤣

[@abmayo8330]

When stephan A was in his prime

[@versatillion15]

ABmayo yea he hasn’t been the same since he tore his ACL

[@astroboy6657]

@@versatillion15 he torn his hairline

[@Roulette914]

Skip was a lot more light-hearted when he was with Stephen A. These seem like friendly conversations, look at the genuine laughter at 8:45 . He sees Shannon as an opponent and often comes at him aggressively at the start of the show. First Take was a conversation. Undisputed is a competition.

[@eldenrace1489]

I would disagree with that. If you watched Skip on first take in 2015 which was his last year on the show his energy began to decrease even with Stephen A Smith. It's probably just age catching up to him.

[@tmoney0212]

I agree

[@MindfulAttraction2.0]

paul pierce's game was truly gorgeous. He and bird have the oldest guy game

[@chubbychuckle]

@Santiago Comics Ikr. Ig I underestimated how hated the Celtics are cause people trash him like he wasn't great. Not top ten in his era but definitely a HOFer

[@unknowntrapper2330]

@Santiago Comics he was and still is and always will be my fav player bro. My friends used to laugh at me cuz they all like kobe, iverson, tmac etc... Cuz he was super flashy. Idc he was just nice

[@UndeadItachi2]

The crazy thing is in his prime he was much more athletic and his prime was shorter than most NBA stars at least from what I seen. But he was so good his lack of speed he made up for in strength and positioning and quick decisions.

[@dusan.stojanovic]

In the modern days, I would say Nikola Jokic plays like that. They play with their mind

[@ziginaigra]

@@GIANTNATION are u blind or your feet smell

[@ajdiaz5525]

This is when Skip was an absolute savage. Dude didn't care about anything just said anything and everything

[@thomaskressig3829]

AJ Diaz was? You seen skip lately?

[@erikmerced6329]

@@thomaskressig3829he trolls so hard nowadays tho. It kinda seems like a charade

[@Bannedconfidential]

Skip was hilarious back in the day and seemed genuinely confident in his takes. Now he’s just a senseless troll.

[@lr5017]

Man I miss Skip on ESPN nobody EVER calls out Stephen A anymore lol

[@douglasbryant2556]

T.O. gave SAS the ultimate call out when he told him Max is Blacker than him.

[@JnH5492]

@@douglasbryant2556 that wasn't a call out, that was just inappropriate and blatantly racist

[@DeerayYoDaddy]

@@JnH5492 EXTREMELY disrespectful. TO lost some respect for that

[@BrokeMalone]

yeah because if they did stephen A smith would get them fired

[@MrGenexxx]

7:09 Oh you gonna know who that is, Skip. A few years later you gonna know...

[@Mahomeboy]

Even in 2019 he rants about that

[@xxtooshiestyxx8756]

Zaza PaCheapShot 🤣🤣

[@eddieneal384]

Jay Crawford was a good host . Miss the old first take . Sas and skip made a good team . They need to ask for a reunion asap even for a special appearance like if skip went to first take for a episode or being sas to undisputed for a episode would be so lit 💯💯

[@bc1406]

These throwbacks are amazing

[@wb4180]

Lol now Paul Pierce is on ESPN

[@Tobyee]

Wesley Bryant 🤣🤣

[@handello]

And giving ridiculous hot takes LOL

[@oshura2506]

Wesley Bryant is

[@SpFlash1523]

ESPN fired him, LOL.

[@johnpestano22]

Man this era of basketball analysis was gold

[@xxJP805xx]

Back when espn first take was actually worth watching...

[@EJayyDreadHead]

It still is lol

[@loudpack3398]

totally agree... first take is so trash now a days... esp kellerman lol... wat a joke... his basketball card should be revoked

[@chicocheckingin]

We went from watching sports highlights to watching sports talk highlights.

[@darrenreynolds7985]

I used to love this era of first take. This was before Stephen A started constantly over talking skip. J Crawford was the perfect moderator.

[@nateburkes1774]

When life was great

[@uzzy909]

The good ole days... RIP Kobe 🕊 🙏

[@luboya48]

Post some 2010-2011 Skip Bayless vidéos on LeBron they used to hilarious “ Chosen one turned Frozen one, LeBrick “

[@user-me2gq7ym7o]

De Luboya "He wasn't even LeRobin James, he was LeAlfred James" hahaha

[@cyborgfours]

Que the lowlight reel 😂😂💀💀

[@thegreatest2245]

I’m still trying to find an older footage when Skip had a headband and Lebron jersey on while shooting a brick.

[@LordBranniganThe]

He hasn’t stopped saying that every week

[@thegreatest2245]

Star Killer I hope it’s real

[@elm4380]

Props to ESPN for bringing back these great clips from early days of First Take

[@safaalalami7235]

If micheal jordan scores 36 and 14 skip will rate it an 11

[@rhelyputra4680]

I rate yo momma a twelve

[@randomupdates4013]

Cause MJ always higher than number scale 🐐

[@jrodzilla24]

Well it's how he looked getting those numbers .. though paul pierce needs more respect

[@onepiece6529]

The greatest duo in Sports History. Stephen A Smith & Skip Bayless 😭 .

[@mr.anderson1562]

Skip and Shannon have way better chemistry skip also picked Shannon to co host with him on undisputed

[@de5913]

@@mr.anderson1562 no, they’re great but no lol

[@davidsarway32]

@@mr.anderson1562 no way lol not even close

[@jer8279]

@@mr.anderson1562 did they?

[@izzy_bozay]

*This comment aged terribly!!!!*

[@mikecomer2291]

These two were gold, it's a shame that they aren't working together anymore..

[@joelewis1409]

I really miss watching these Legends go at each other.

[@mikeyyyyyy3312]

Keep posting these clips

[@buda360xyz]

Man this video is crispppppp!!!!

[@cgomc323]

ah, the good old days. i wish i could transport myself back in time to this.

[@supasav6667]

36pts 14rebs Skip =5 so he needed 72 & 28 for a 10

[@Wolfy2821]

no matter how heated the arguments these two always made it seem like they were having a great tine together

[@nlforeverguild2827]

R.i.p Kobe man... MambaForever

[@CloneCoalition21]

These two were hilarious

[@johnnycee9325]

11:40 Ya moonwalk and waffle all over the place you should do an endorsement deal for Roscoe's! EEAASSILY one of Stephen A's greatest lines!!! 😁😁😂😂🤣🤣😭😭🔥🔥

[@thegreatdel9679]

The original Troll! 36 pts & 14 Rebs, and Skip rates it a 5 out of 10

[@jrsmith1998]

because of who it was against. Dummy. That’s why it wasn’t impressive. The Hawks were trash.

[@burneraccount1592]

As a hawks fan, I regret clicking this..

[@claudexandam]

Being a Hawks fan should warrant regret. 😂

[@thegreatestfinesser2338]

Chef-_ The-_ Great No fr

[@michaelarchie6016]

I live in Atlanta....Paul has always killed the hawks...... and I fucks with hawks

[@Drill8]

robert lee they went full roast on the hawks 😂😂

[@mosquitogzz]

Stephen a and skip were like brothers Stephen always correcting skip 😂😂

[@Ghanaba23]

GOAT James!! I keep hearing that whenever I see Skiup

[@coltonw8686]

I still remember when the Hawks team bus left Jeff Teague at the arena lol

[@Alpha.T.Fitness]

Skip just seemed happier when he was with SAS. I know he's gotten older but look here you can see he's exuding a vibrant energy and is so ready to go. On Undisputed though a great show he just doesn't show that vibrant side like he use to and barely genuinely smiles I hope he's happy.

[@Eddie53172]

Trip down memory lane.

[@jihadtheartfulbarber771]

These 2 were the perfect combination.

[@EmpireRamzes]

miss these days, this was the stuff of legends

[@xx1j]

Rip Kobe :(

[@Jody_Joe]

I love these playoffs back then

[@juniorrebel8479]

Stephen A needs to rehire his barber. Look at his beard now it looks like he does it himself blindfolded

[@shay1097]

It was never real to begin was with

[@DaShow021]

Man some of these players are still playing sheesh

[@isamel-hussein9186]

i miss this first take so much

[@douglasbryant2556]

Stephen A was never as condescending to Skip as he is to Max.

[@jonbois9802]

Cause this was Skips show back then he bought SAS on

[@moses9647]

@@jonbois9802 Exactly lol he knew where his bread was buttered. Now that espn gave him the keys to the estate he talks down to everyone

[@SuperSonic_868]

Cuz skip used to throw it back at him lol. Max isn't nearly as hardcore as skip. I feel like Stephen A. respects skip 10x more than max. Max comes off as a pushover.

[@Mambagta]

@@SuperSonic_868 because Skip has a strong background in journalism he's a very smart old geezer who knows how to make people react to the things he says even if half of it is just him being objective or biased which he really can't help

[@Tobyee]

*Miss them on the same show!*

[@daniel_2753]

Ol’ Drip Bayless

[@arizonaFIREent]

Pierce was underrated

[@Des_M3]

best duo

[@anthonybanks2092]

@6:35 Although this is in 2012, but Stephen A still summarizes the Atlanta Hawks today. Make it to the playoffs and then bounced out, every year.

[@warrenrambo]

The Originals. Man we have came along way

[@chrisedomwande5516]

skip used to be WAYYYY more lively :'(

[@joey_cash]

matthew masters or he’s just getting older

[@julianalthabe5694]

He is getting old, its a shame. I hope before he retires, he comes back to make shows with SAS.

[@AGIMJONES]

If only he could say what he’s thinking about Shannon with that stupid goat mask

[@randomupdates4013]

He’s a year or two shy of 70, fought for Shannon to be signed - dude in incredible shape for age and spitting fire still 💧to the 🔥

[@Jetsjohnny1031]

When First take was truly great!

[@jthorn2653]

8:49 Stephen talking about Kobe 🐐

[@ESVerdePark]

Kobe 💚💚💚💚

[@bayoulawnspecialist230]

Now that’s a young drip Bayless right there

[@ammonbakarri-o2108]

Naw this joint was out in 05 people. Spurs vs Detroit

[@jaketiernan8461]

Amazing how stephen A was so amazed at how good Kobe was in his 16th year, wonder if he will give lebron the same credit in his 17th

[@LetsNotFxckingDie]

I miss these two together.

[@xXLilSmurthXx]

Miss the two of them going back and forth

[@jwallyo]

Skip didn't listen then and definitely doesn't listen now

[@Major_OD]

Prime First Take

[@GGG-zp2gd]

Rip Kobe

[@mozuesolympian2988]

Anyone watch these just to remember how it was without molly.

[@clickycal]

Skip and SAS had the best chemistry by far. Nothing will ever compare.

[@kd9262]

No surprise anyway.. Paul had been putting the team on his back for years with incredible performances like these, it's just that media never paid any attention to those bad Celtics teams. But if you followed the team throughout the years then you know this is just business as usual for Pierce

[@Chloethepomsky]

Old heads hate pierce cuz he gave their team 30-40 all the time Young heads missed his prime truly underrated player

[@haroldwoodson7747]

The good ole days

[@715abe]

The most underrated player of all time. Not debatable 🍀🍀🍀

[@OGGOAT23]

Overrrated imo

[@greenion42]

Top 10 underrated. There are def some all-time caliber players better and more underrated than P34. One name I can think of right off the bat is Dirk Nowitzki.

[@Galatasaray-oz9fn]

Aaron B. Eaddy Moses Malone

[@pistolpete3989]

No

[@Supermariohoops24]

Did Dominique Wilkins and Pete Maravich die?

[@lonhia]

Bro I miss this so much, this feels like skip actually trolling so he can get stephen a riled up lol

[@AqwDragulum]

My boi Stephen A called him Jar Jar Pachulia 😂

[@zacharyrizzo3952]

Please upload the whole Tim Tebow and Tom Brady segment next

[@Fotosynthesis858]

Paul Pierce once said, “I had a better career than Dwayne Wade…” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

[@eddieneal384]

THey need to work together again.miss this duo. even miss Jay❤

[@Iceman-gm1fu]

"He did the impossible. I am Not impressed" skip bayless had bars like lil wayne!

[@julianyniguez9626]

I remember Stephan A would only be on Wednesday’s to debate skip lol looked forward all week to that

[@jaydot4956]

Exactly! I thought I was the only one who remembered that 😂. The good old days when first take was fun to watch. Now it seems kinda dry

[@paulh2664]

Can you guys find first take episodes after Paul Pierce hit buzzer beats Like game winner against bulls in the PLAYOFFS 2009 Or after PIERCE game winner buzzer against heat in 2010 Or buzzer that he said i called game I wanna see first take the days after those game winning playoff shots

[@8722jojo]

I miss this first take

[@21Armagedons]

I can hear zaza pa-cheap-shot in my head whenever I hear his name

[@smlshin]

I remember watching this...I blinked and it was 2021.

[@ContextReallyMatters]

Pierce was what you call clutch

[@eduardoocon3293]

I enjoy watching skip now with shannon sharpe. But this was the real deal man skip and stephen a smith man these two had me laughing every morning.

[@swanmoore3479]

Is it me? Or does Skip seem to have way more swag now that he's working with ol Shae Sharpe?

[@MikeBNumba6]

He's drip Bayless

[@versatillion15]

Johnathan Vasquez no he got more money at FSN

[@randomupdates4013]

Johnathan Vasquez fool, Skip put his job and new show development on the line for Shannon

[@myclassmate7588]

Keepin in real in 2022

[@hilltop54jungle48]

The Truuuuth!!!

[@CustomFitted]

This channel really needs to upload the episode of First Take directly after the 2011 Finals after LeBron lost I've been looking for it for so many years. Skip never felt more vindicated in his entire life and it was wild entertaining

[@MikeBNumba6]

Or when LeBron lost to the Celtics when he was with the cavs. Skip used to destroy LeBron lol

[@CustomFitted]

@@MikeBNumba6 I think I had seen that video before tho, if 2010 is what u talkin bout

[@delaxanexel44]

It’s up with mark cuban

[@CustomFitted]

@@delaxanexel44 I'm talking about like right after the 2011 finals

[@MrJaytheking]

Did he just say JAJA Pachulia?????? 😂😂😂7:07

[@lifewithgthemac161]

I watched this game live Paul pierce was clutch that night no rondo no Allen

[@francflor5210]

SAS is like a prophet

[@Grizzle2894]

Forgot just how good they were together