Charles Barkley sends strong warning to Stephen A. Smith of media overexposure

As two of the most prominent NBA voices over the past decade-plus, Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith have been friends for years. Which is why the outspoken NBA on TNT analyst has no qualms telling the ESPN firebrand to knock off his recent presidential-like media tour, which included a brief appearance as a slain sports agent in last week’s Law & Order episode.

“You know, Stephen A.’s a friend of mine but he needs to stop right now,” Barkley told OutKick’s Dan Dakich last week on his Don’t @ Me podcast. “I don’t go on a bunch of shows. Less is more. Because the more you do, the less people take you serious. And I don’t feel the need to grab every dime at my disposal. Like, I’ve been arguing with my agent. He says, ‘We can do five to seven commercials a year.’ I said, ‘We’re going to do two commercials a year — that’s it.’ I don’t want to be on TV all the time. I get sick of seeing myself doing March Madness. … I don’t do a bunch of TV stuff, because people get sick of you. That’s my No. 1 thing. People will get sick of you.”

Smith, who reportedly signed a $100 million extension with ESPN earlier this year, has become a regular in the political realm since floating the idea of running for president in 2028. That has included multiple hits on news networks FOX, CNN and even NewsNation. That’s in addition to his daily appearances on ESPN with First Take and NBA Today, as well as his recurring role as “Brick” on General Hospital.

“I mean, he’s already on General Hospital. Now, he’s going to be on Law and Order tonight. I was just laughing. I’m like, ‘Yo, man, you’re starting to be too much right now,’” Barkley continued. “Like, you’re going to be on CNN, you’re going to be on Fox and Friends, you’re on General Hospital, now you’re on Law and Order. I’m like, ‘Yo, man, knock it off. Stop being on every TV show.’

“Because at some point, people are going to get sick of you, and you’re going to be like, ‘Yeah, I probably did too much,'” Barkley added. “But once you do too much, it’s too late. And then people don’t take you seriously. And I think he’s gotta be careful in that aspect.”

It’s an interesting point from Barkley, who appears in half a dozen March Madness and Capital One commercials annually during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Whether or not Smith heeds Barkley’s advice it yet to be seen, especially after receiving an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Donald Trump supports potential Stephen A. Smith run for president

As speculation swirls around a potential 2028 presidential run, Stephen A. Smith apparently has a big name in his corner. President Donald Trump said he’d support the ESPN personality if he chose to run for election.

Trump called in to NewsNation for an interview with Smith, Chris Cuomo and Bill O’Reilly as part of Cuomo Townhall and vouched his support for Smith.

Trump pointed out qualities that stand out about Smith, the face of ESPN’s First Take who recently agreed to a lucrative contract extension. He also noted his record of “picking candidates.”

“Stephen A., he’s a good guy,” Trump said. “He’s a smart guy. I love watching him. He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say, ‘They have no chance.’ I’ve been pretty good at picking people, and picking candidates. And I will tell you, I’d love to see him run.”

Smith previously said he didn’t plan on running in the 2028 election, but admitted his confidence he’d win if he chose to do so. However, he changed his tune last month, saying he is “not going to rule it out” when asked about the possibility of running for office.

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.