Stephen A. Smith calls out Memphis police: NBA players don’t feel safe

Memphis, we have a problem.

On Sunday, the Grizzlies traded shooting guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a first-round pick swap, sending shockwaves throughout the NBA.

However, according to NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith, players don’t feel safe when they travel to Memphis, which could prevent the team from reaching its full potential.

The alleged sentiment was revealed on “First Take” Tuesday during a discussion about the Grizzles’ inability to attract (and potentially retain) free agents, which led Smith to call out the city and its infamous police department.

“You gonna tell folks why nobody wants to be in Memphis? Or you want me to do it?” Smith asked. “Memphis is 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. I’m talking to the local authorities in Memphis. You’ve got to clean some of that stuff up because it’s dissuasive to NBA players ... They’ve told me.”

Whether Smith is alluding to corruption within the police department or Memphis crime in general is unclear. Either way, Smith holds the department responsible.

Meanwhile, Memphis crime rates reveal a mixed picture: While violent crime and property crime rates have generally decreased in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, murder rates have remained stagnant. Property crimes, like burglaries and thefts, have seen significant decreases.

Despite these improvements, Memphis still experiences higher crime rates than the national average, particularly in violent crime.

Todderick Hunt covers Sports and Culture and Recruiting. Have a story idea or a tip? He can be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com.