Stephen A. Smith has made his stance crystal clear regarding the Karmelo Anthony case.
During a recent episode of his podcast, Straight Shooter, Smith did not hold back, declaring, “Karmelo Anthony is guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf. There’s no other way to put it.”
Anthony was found guilty of murder after the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, back in April 2025. He received a 35-year prison sentence.
Stephen A. Smith was seen attending a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks at the Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Smith also took aim at Anthony’s defense team’s argument that Anthony acted in self-defense when he killed Metcalf.
The deadly altercation on that fateful April day started when Anthony entered another team’s tent at a high school track meet. Metcalf and his twin brother, Hunter, approached Anthony, who was sitting under their team’s tent. The brothers asked him to leave as it was not his team’s tent.
Karmelo Anthony was convicted of murdering Austin Metcalf at a track meet at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (KDFW)
The ESPN commentator also said, “How does that justify Karmelo Anthony pulling out a knife?”
Smith also mentioned in his podcast that he was “not happy” with the makeup of the jury for the Anthony case.
“I’m not happy with the sentencing because I’m not happy with the jury — 18 jurors, about six minorities, none of whom happen to be Black? I don’t believe that’s being judged by a ‘jury of your peers’,” he said.
A court sketch shows Karmelo Anthony during his trial in Collin County, Texas, where he was convicted of murder in the 2025 stabbing death of Austin Metcalf on June 9, 2026. (Pat Lopez)
The jury for the trial was comprised of 12 jurors with six alternates, totaling 18.
Karmelo Anthony stands in a courtroom during his trial in Collin County, Texas, on June 9, 2026, shortly before jurors were sent to deliberate. (Pat Lopez/Unknown)
However, throughout the podcast, Smith still maintained his stance on the case that has brought about controversial divide and racial undertones.
“You know what really hits home for me?” he paused.
ESPN commentator and executive producer Stephen A. Smith is on set in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 7, 2025. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
He went on to say, “I think it would hit home for any parent who sends their child to high school — is fully aware that they’re competing in track, and they get a call or a knock at the door, and they’re told that their child is never, ever coming home again.”
News Media has reached out to Smith for comment.
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