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If you spend even five minutes watching ESPN, you know Stephen A. Smith. He is loud. He is unfiltered. He is the guy who will scream about a Knicks blowout until his voice cracks, and frankly, we love him for it. But when the cameras stop rolling and that famous "First Take" suit comes off, the man is a total enigma. For years, fans have been dying to know: does Stephen A. Smith have kids? It's a fair question. Usually, when someone is that famous, we know everything about them—what they ate for breakfast, who they're dating, and definitely if they have a family. Stephen A. managed to pull off the impossible in the age of social media. He kept his fatherhood a secret for over a decade.
Honestly, it’s kind of impressive. In a world where every celebrity posts their kid’s first ultrasound on Instagram, Smith kept his head down. He didn't spill the beans until a 2019 interview with GQ. That’s when the world finally found out that the baddest man in sports media is actually a "girl dad."
The Big Reveal: Meet Samantha and Nyla
So, let's get right to it. Stephen A. Smith has two daughters. Their names are Samantha and Nyla. When he finally opened up about them in 2019, they weren't toddlers anymore; they were already 10 and 11 years old. Imagine being one of the most recognizable faces on television and managed to hide two human beings for ten years.
He basically said they gave him a "new lease on life." This was especially true after his mother, Janet Smith, passed away in 2017. He’s been very open about how devastating that loss was. It turns out, his girls were the ones who pulled him through the darkest times.
Samantha Smith: The Budding Star
Samantha is the older daughter. And guess what? She’s already carving out her own path. You might have seen her at the premiere of The Best Man: The Final Chapters or even in the Disney+ series Saturdays. She isn't just "Stephen A.'s daughter." She’s an actress.
She also made waves recently when she basically hijacked her dad's YouTube show. She hopped on the mic, made her own NBA Finals picks (she went with the Thunder while her dad was sticking with the Pacers), and even roasted his receding hairline. The comments section went nuts. People were saying she has the same "Stephen A. energy" but with a Gen Z twist.
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Nyla Smith: The Strategist
Then there’s Nyla. While she might not be in the spotlight as much as Samantha, Stephen A. has shared some hilarious stories about her. He once wrote a piece for Men's Health where he described Nyla huddling with her sister like she was Tom Brady calling a play.
The goal? Convincing their dad to let them watch TV in his room.
She apparently used a "polite threat" about eating chips on his white couch until he caved. Even the man who stares down the biggest athletes in the world is no match for a daughter who knows how to negotiate.
Why Stephen A. Smith Kept His Kids a Secret
You’re probably wondering why he stayed silent for so long. It wasn’t because he was ashamed—quite the opposite. Smith is protective. He’s seen how the media treats the families of public figures, and he wanted no part of that for his girls.
He once mentioned that he doesn’t even let them watch First Take without his permission. Why? Because he "might wanna go off." He doesn't want his professional persona—the shouting, the debating, the "Screamin' A." character—to be how his daughters see their father. To them, he's just Dad.
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He’s also a single father. He’s mentioned being engaged once in the past, but it didn't work out. He chose not to get married during the height of his career because he was on the road 200 days a year. He was honest enough with himself to know he couldn't be the husband he wanted to be while chasing the bag that hard.
The "Parenting Hack" from His Mother
Stephen A. shared a pretty interesting parenting tip on The Jennifer Hudson Show. He wants his daughters to have his voice "embedded in their brain."
He basically said he talks to them so much and gives them so much advice that even when they’re away at college or out on a date, they can’t escape his voice. It sounds a bit intense, but he credits his own mother for that technique. He wants them to hear his guidance when they’re faced with a tough decision.
"To me, the only thing potentially more enjoyable than seeing my children safe, healthy, and happy is knowing that I've helped make them that way."
How Fatherhood Changed the "Straight Shooter"
If you’ve noticed a slight change in Stephen A. over the last few years, you aren't imagining it. He’s still loud, sure. But there’s a level of compassion and nuance that wasn't always there. He admits that his daughters made him a better man.
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They’ve taught him about perspective. In his memoir, Straight Shooter, he dives deep into his relationship with his own father, which wasn't great. It seems like his goal as a dad is to be everything his father wasn't. He’s there for the theater productions, the WNBA games, and the red carpets.
He’s also not forcing them into his world. He told GQ that they don't have to root for the Knicks. That might be the biggest sacrifice a New York fan can make.
What to Take Away From Stephen A.’s Family Life
At the end of the day, the answer to does Stephen A. Smith have kids reveals a lot about the man behind the desk. He isn't just a talking head; he’s a guy trying to navigate the complexities of raising two daughters while being one of the most famous people in the country.
If you’re looking for a takeaway from how he handles his personal life, it’s probably these three things:
- Privacy is a Choice: Even in 2026, you can keep your private life private if you really want to. You don't owe the world a look at your children.
- Legacy Matters: For Smith, his daughters are his "successors." He views his work as a way to provide for them, but his presence is what actually shapes them.
- Accountability: He was honest about why he didn't get married—he knew his lifestyle wouldn't support it at the time. That kind of self-awareness is rare.
Whether you love his sports takes or find him exhausting, you have to respect the way he’s protected Samantha and Nyla. He’s built a fortress around them while building an empire for them. That’s a balancing act that deserves a standing ovation.
Check out Stephen A.’s memoir Straight Shooter if you want the full, unvarnished story of his journey from the Bronx to the top of the sports world. It gives a lot more context on how his upbringing influenced the way he raises his girls today.