MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith says NBA players don’t want to play in Memphis because of high crime.
In a show segment posted to X on Tuesday morning, Smith said he knows this because players have told him.
“The people in Memphis, it’s a great sports town, great fans, great people. But there’s an element there where cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel it’s the safest environment,” Smith said. “I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You gotta clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players.”
A show guest defended the city, saying he’d love to be there. There was also backup for Memphis from Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, who reaffirmed his commitment to the 901 in several posts on X.
“Instead of focusing on the performances we seen from jdub/shai, tj/siakam, how this series is going. We say sumn negative about a city/team on a national level,” wrote Morant.
Morant’s home in Shelby County, just outside Memphis, was allegedly burglarized last year by a group of men targeting professional athletes across the country.
Ted Townsend, the president of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce, responded to this story on X, tagging Smith and saying, “Would love to host you here in Memphis along with 225 of my business executives that are more than happy to tell you why these perceptions are wrong. Book your ticket and let’s meet. No need to throw shade via other conversations you’re having with players. Authorities here are doing the work to make Memphis safe. Check the stats.”
But State Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) called Smith’s statement “a wake-up call for Memphis.”
“Our city’s reputation is taking a hit, and it’s not just about basketball—it’s about our community, our pride, and our future,” Taylor wrote on Facebook. “We can’t let crime define us. That’s why I’m calling on local officials to join me in getting TOUGH on crime and making our streets safer for everyone. Together, we can show the world that Memphis is a place where people want to live, work, and play.”
Memphis’ mayor and police chief this year have touted a declining crime rate in the city.
After a record-setting year with 398 homicides in 2023, they say crime in the city declined by 13% in 2024, and continues to drop in 2025. Crime downtown, where FedExForum is located, was down nearly 30%.
“We’re not going to stop until Memphis is the model for how to reduce crime,” Mayor Paul Young said earlier this year.