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ESPN’s ‘First Take’ took an unexpected turn on Thursday after Stephen A. Smith made a surprising admission about his colleague Chiney Ogwumike’s French accent.
During the episode, Smith and Ogwumike analyzed the Minnesota Timberwolves’ decisive 113-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets, which gave the Timberwolves a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoff series. Central to the win was Rudy Gobert, whose defensive prowess helped limit three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to a frustrating 7-of-26 shooting night.
Ogwumike praised Gobert’s standout performance, incorporating some French into her commentary to honor the 33-year-old center’s heritage. “Bonjour, Stephen A.
Je m’appelle Chiney, et Rudy Gobert il est magnifique,” she said, playfully adding, “I hope I did all the French people proud there with my pronunciation. I’m more of a Spanish girl.”
Smith was clearly impressed, repeatedly telling her, “You did me proud.” Ogwumike continued to highlight Gobert’s impact, noting how he has taken this matchup personally amid criticism throughout his career. She pointed out Gobert’s defensive success against Jokic, limiting him to 40% shooting and just 4-of-19 from beyond the arc through three games.
As the analysis wrapped up, Smith unexpectedly got candid: “In all my years on this Earth, I’ve never dated a woman from France or anything like that. But after hearing Chiney, I’m like, what have I been missing? That language, that verbiage right there, that kind of turned me on.”
The moment sparked some eye-rolling from Ogwumike, who simply responded with a lighthearted “Crazy,” before the show moved on. It was a rare and amusing glimpse into the offbeat side of sports commentary on ‘First Take.’