In a new interview, Max Kellerman gave his perspective on why he was forced out of his role on First Take in 2021, and he claims it was because Stephen A. Smith was scared to go “15 rounds with Muhammad Kellerman.”
Kellerman became a fan favorite sports analyst due to his outstanding work covering boxing for the network, his time hosting Around the Horn, and his radio shows, Max & Marcellus and Keyshawn, JWill and Max. But maybe his most notable role came as the flip side to daily debates with Stephen A. Smith on First Take.
Kellerman replaced Skip Bayless in 2016 and went toe-to-toe with the popular talking head on the morning show for five years. Their run together was a pivotal part of the show’s history. However, Kellerman was unceremoniously removed in 2021, and there has been speculation ever since about why.
However, Kellerman has said little about it publicly. Well, that was until this week. In a revealing chat with The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, the long-time sports analyst opened up about his ouster from the show, and he suggested he was forced out by Smith because he wanted to be a solo act and grew tired of being bested by Kellerman in their daily debates.
“If you’re doing a debate show and you’re a competitive person, why would you want me as a partner? That’s bad,” Kellerman began by saying. “You want to go 15 rounds every day with ‘Muhammad Kellerman.’ It’s embarrassing. I have an idea. This is what I want to put on TV. I want to spar with ‘Bud’ Crawford every day, for 15 rounds, and I want everyone to see it.
“Eventually, you’re going to say I don’t want to do that anymore. That’s what I can tell you from my point of view. And I also think that if you make a calculation that you can be perceived as a solo act, you can get paid at a certain level that you can’t if you’re not a solo act.”
Kellerman also suggested that while Stephen A. Smith is known for bold hot takes, he doesn’t make any. Instead, he offers up big reactions to his co-host’s point and does not give “counter-intuitive” opinions.
It is very likely that Smith will eventually have a response to these comments on his personal YouTube page because, as Kellerman noted, he never likes anyone getting one up on him.
