Stephen A. Smith's reunion with Skip Bayless brings the heat

Stephen A. Smith's reunion with Skip Bayless brings the heat

Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith reunited on ESPN’s "First Take" on Friday, marking a highly anticipated show years in the making. The two picked up right where they left off when Bayless departed the show in 2016, reigniting their trademark chemistry and spirited debates.

The show opened with a heated debate about the Los Angeles Lakers’ strengths, questioning whether they would fare better with or without Luka Doncic, a hypothetical that energized the conversation. The duo also broke down the Lakers' performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals. The friendly rivalry was on full display as Smith took a playful jab at Bayless’s signature drink, Diet Mountain Dew, teasing its merit after Bayless contended that Doncic wouldn’t be a difference-maker on offense.

Their banter escalated as the conversation shifted to the Dallas Cowboys, a recurring subject that always generates fireworks between the two. Smith, known for ribbing Bayless over his allegiance to the Cowboys, came prepared with a social video clip of Bayless throwing his Cowboys jersey in the trash. The moment underscored Smith’s argument that being a New York Knicks fan might be less agonizing than supporting the Cowboys.