Long-time "First Take" host Stephen A. Smith was noticeably absent from the show's intro on Friday morning, leaving viewers curious about his whereabouts. Host Molly Qerim, alongside NBA analysts Tim Legler and Monica McNutt, addressed Smith's absence and delivered a message at the start of the program concerning his status.

According to Qerim, Smith sustained an ankle injury while playing basketball with Dallas Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons. The injury occurred during a game in which Smith was serving as a coach for the Rising Stars Game, scheduled for Friday night. Parsons is also set to compete in the same game.

Qerim explained that during the basketball match, Parsons performed an impressive crossover move on Smith, resulting in the host being sent to the hospital for treatment. However, Smith vehemently denied these claims, even going so far as to call Qerim a liar.

"Ladies and gentlemen in America, Molly Qerim is a pathological liar. That did not happen to me," Smith vehemently stated. "She made the whole thing up. Crossed over by a Cowboy? By Micah Parsons?"

Smith proceeded to recount his own version of events, which contradicted Qerim's account. He mentioned attending a practice session where Shannon Sharpe failed to show up, prompting Smith's presence to scout his team and strategize for the game. Smith claimed that during the practice, he and Parsons engaged in basketball activities, and an accident occurred due to the wet floor, causing Smith to fall dramatically.

Qerim responded to Smith's narrative, sarcastically suggesting that he should have stuck to her story, hinting that she did not believe his explanation. Undeterred, Smith confirmed his commitment to remain as a coach in the Rising Stars Game despite the injury.

Reports from the All-Star Weekend showed Smith taking jump shots accompanied by shooting coach Chris Matthews, popularly known as Lethal Shooter. Smith's coaching team for the Celebrity Game includes Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, recently signed Phoenix Mercury star Natasha Cloud, NBA veteran Ron Artest (now called Metta Sandiford-Artest), and AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys.

Sharpe's team, on the other hand, features Parsons, Jewell Loyd of the Seattle Storm, actor Quincy Isaiah, known for portraying Magic Johnson in HBO's "Winning Time," and musician Anuel AA.

The highly anticipated Rising Stars Game, scheduled to air on ESPN at 7 p.m. on Friday, has garnered significant attention due to the incident between Parsons and Smith. The reported ankle injury caused by Parsons' crossover has added an extra layer of excitement and intrigue ahead of the game.