Etan Thomas, a former NBA player and writer, has publicly criticized ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith in an open letter, accusing him of harboring a political bias against conservatives. The letter, published on May 11, 2026, questions Smith's commentary on Black athletes, his political views, and his appearances on conservative media outlets, suggesting a potential conflict of interest.

Thomas begins by acknowledging Smith's support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). He notes Smith's role as an ambassador for the annual HBCU College Fair, which has generated over $12 million in scholarships. Thomas also credits Smith with promoting student enrollment and bringing national media attention to HBCUs, seemingly to establish a baseline of Smith's contributions before launching his critique.

Thomas then pivots to attack what he perceives as Smith's political leanings. He cites Chuck Modiano, co-host of The Collision, who suggests that Smith is more critical of Black athletes than white executives or team owners. Thomas lists several Black athletes, including Kyrie Irving, Kwame Brown, LeBron James, Terrell Owens, and Kevin Durant, as examples of those Smith has targeted with what Thomas describes as passion and vitriol.

Thomas also criticizes Smith's political commentary, particularly his statements on race and the justice system. He cites Smith's claim that racism is not as prevalent in the U.S. as some on the "left" claim, and his assertion that most Americans judge people based on character rather than skin color. Thomas suggests that Smith is merely expressing a different perspective, one that doesn't necessarily align with the prevailing narrative pushed by the left.

Furthermore, Thomas points to Smith's comments on immigration and the death of Renee Good at the hands of ICE agents. Thomas states that Smith blamed Good for her own death and claimed that people celebrated ICE under Obama but condemn Trump. Thomas also criticizes Smith for calling Democrats' efforts to hold Trump accountable in the courts as "lawfare."

Thomas also addresses Smith's criticism of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for not being respectful enough to Trump. He also notes that while Smith has recently criticized Trump for the delay in releasing the Epstein files, he previously questioned why people were outraged by the files.

Smith's appearances with Sean Hannity are also a point of contention for Thomas. He highlights Hannity's history of denigrating Black people, including his comparison of Black Lives Matter to the Ku Klux Klan and his denial of systemic racism in policing. However, many conservatives see Hannity as a legitimate voice representing their values and principles.