“You Made it About Race” – Ex-NFL Star Calls Out Stephen A. Smith in Brutal Rant

With the addition of Walker Kessler, the Lakers have three White athletes taking care of the defense.

“You Made it About Race” – Ex-NFL Star Calls Out Stephen A. Smith in Brutal Rant

Walker Kessler, and Emmanuel Acho and Stephen A. Smith inside the circles (Image via Yardbarker)

Emmanuel Acho didn’t like Stephen A. Smith viewing Walker Kessler’s big move to the Los Angeles Lakers through the lens of race. Acho advised the veteran analyst to stick to talking about basketball.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz in exchange for two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

Shortly after, Stephen A. recorded a video message reacting to the trade news on his channel.

Somebody had to say it. So I’m saying it. Your three top players are White dudes. REALLY? This ain’t golf. This ain’t baseball. Hell, it ain’t even soccer. And we got a whole bunch of brothers on team USA. What y’all think this is? It’s basketball.

Stephen A. Smith ranted

Kessler is walking into a Lakers team with Luka Doncic as defensive anchor alongside Austin Reaves, making the backline populated by three White athletes. Smith isn’t a fan.

You ain’t going anywhere being led by three White dudes in today’s generation of basketball.

Smith said

Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho lashed out at Smith for giving the discussion a color instead of just reporting on basketball. It would have been better if Smith had broken down the strengths and weaknesses of the athletes and how they will affect the Lakers’ chances next season.

This isn’t to diminish you, but the thought process behind your take. Your take was incorrect because you made the premise on ‘We have never seen three White best players lead a team before.’ But just because we haven’t seen something happen, does not necessary mean it will not happen.

Emmanuel Acho said on Speakeasy

Acho reminded Smith that he himself is an example of defying the natural social order. Smith is currently the highest-paid sports broadcaster on American TV who doesn’t come from a sports background. Before Smith, no one could have envisioned an individual of African American heritage holding such status in this industry. Acho didn’t expect an irresponsible reaction to come from Smith of all people.

The dilemma I have with your discussion and your discourse is very simple: You took something, and you try to say that it was a causation because of their race… If you wanted to talk basketball, you should have just talked basketball. Instead you chose to talk color, thus you made it racial.

Acho concluded
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Stephen A. Smith makes his stand clear on the Lakers fielding an all-White defense

Smith’s statement on the Lakers’ defense dropped like a nuclear strike on Twitter. Some showed support, while others, like Acho, criticized him for turning the subject into a racial discussion.

You Made it About Race - Ex-NFL Star Calls Out Stephen A. Smith in Brutal Rant
Stephen A. Smith (Image via IMAGO)

After noticing the increasing discourse against him, Smith finally clarified his earlier statement. Smith is not backing down.

What I said, and I’m going to reiterate this again, is when have we seen a team with three of its top players who happen to be White delivering a championship? Can we talk basketball? Because that’s what I’m talking about.

Smith said in a different video

Over the years, legendary players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James have occupied the Lakers backcourt. The trio of Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler is very different from previous eras.

But that doesn’t translate into something bad. Nikola Jokic won back-to-back NBA MVP titles with the Denver Nuggets. Before him, Dirk Nowitzki carried the Dallas Mavericks to an NBA Championship in 2011. Sure, the Lakers’ case is unique, but they can still surprise a lot of people.

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