Stephen A. Smith says 'First Take' cohosts went 'too far' in MVP race debate: 'It was uncomfortable'

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In March, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins hinted that Nikola Jokic was the favorite to be named NBA MVP because he is White. Joel Embiid eventually won the award.

Perkins' cohost, JJ Redick, shut down Perkins' notion rather quickly, but things turned awkward just as fast.

When Redick challenged Perkins, Perkins backtracked on his sentiment, and cooler heads prevailed.

Stephen A. Smith, the main host on "First Take," admitted there was a lot of awkwardness between the personalities.

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Stephen A. Smith speaks on stage during the Semafor Media Summit April 10, 2023, in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Semafor)

Smith said the two went "too far" in the argument.

"What I didn’t know was the fury, at least it appeared to be fury to me, that JJ Redick was feeling over the subject. When he came on, on one hand, I understood how or why he felt the way he felt because of what Perk had said. On the other hand, I was saying to JJ, ‘This is your colleague on the show. If you feel that way, did you have to come at him like that?’ Because it did get uncomfortable," Smith said on Bill Simmons' podcast.

"JJ and Kendrick made it appear like it was about them. And that’s when I knew it was bad, and I stepped in," Smith continued. "But it was uncomfortable."

ESPN Analyst Kendrick Perkins reports on the 2022 NBA Draft Combine on May 18, 2022, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Smith also said Perkins was just trying to make a point but tried a bit too hard to do so. Perkins even falsely claimed NBA MVP voters were predominantly White, forcing ESPN to issue