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Stephen A. Smith pulls no punches when it comes to his opinion on the Karmelo Anthony verdict.
On a recent episode of his Straight Shooter podcast, the commentator said, “Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf. There's no other way to split it.”
Anthony was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years behind bars after stabbing and killing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025.
CONVICTED KILLER KARMELO ANTHONY SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS AFTER YEAR-LONG LEGAL BATTLE: TIMELINE
Stephen A. Smith (C) attends 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. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Smith also disputed Anthony's legal team's idea that he was “acting in self-defense” when he stabbed and killed Metcalf.
KARMELO ANTHONY TRIAL IGNITS RIVAL CAMPS THAT THREATEN TO GET INTO JURIES' HEADS ON TRACK FOUND WITH STAB: EXPERT
The deadly altercation on that fateful April day began 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 his team tent. The brothers asked him to leave because it was not their team's tent.
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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?”
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Smith also mentioned on his podcast that he was “not happy” with the makeup of the jury in the Anthony case.
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“I'm not happy with the sentence because I'm not happy with the jury: 18 jurors, about six minorities, none of whom are black? I don't think that's being tried by a 'jury of 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 trial jury was made up of 12 jurors with six alternates, for a total of 18.
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Karmelo Anthony stands in a courtroom during her trial in Collin County, Texas, on June 9, 2026, shortly before jurors were sent to deliberate. (Pat López/Unknown)
However, throughout the podcast, Smith maintained his stance on the case that has sparked controversial division and racial undertones.
“You know what really shocks me?” He paused.
ESPN commentator and executive producer Stephen A. Smith is on set in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX on February 7, 2025. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
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He went on to say, “I think this will shock any parent who sends their child to high school: They are fully aware that they are competing in athletics and they get a call or a knock on the door and they tell them that their child will never come home.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Smith for comment.
