“He and I will never speak again” Stephen A. Smith admits he’s part of the reason there’s a stigma surrounding Kyrie Irving
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Stephen A. Smith and Kyrie Irving
Stephen A. Smith has made his way back to the NBA headlines and the reason is Kyrie Irving again. As Uncle Drew got a lot of attention this time during the Brooklyn Nets’ media day. Because he was present there and answered all the questions while cleaning off the dirt he has got on himself by not being available for the team last season. Stephen A. Smith’s take came after Kyrie Irving replying to the questions in the media day took a shot at his critics who were hating on him for being unvaccinated and “voice for the voiceless”.
Kyrie Irving talking about the rollercoaster journey he was on the past year, quoted: “I didn’t appreciate how me being unvaccinated came to be a stigma within my career that I don’t want to play, or that I’m willing to give up everything to be a voice for the voiceless…” He also said a lot of other stuff which just didn’t age well with Stephen A. Smith. As after some time, Stephen A. Smith delivered a perfect take against Kyrie and has probably ended it all for him. Because the analyst did a perfect job in pulling up the important points against the guard.
Stephen A. Smith started his take by riding with Kyrie Irving as he backed his take up for being unvaccinated. He also mentioned how his unavailability broke a super-team and sold it all by getting swept past season. Further, Smith quoted: “But it ain’t just about the vaccine. It’s about the season before when you elected to sit out because of the riots at the US Capitol and you were traumatized.”
Smith sitting alongside Richard Jefferson added: “It was about knowing you were supposed to come back but you were seen partying with your family, knowing its violation of protocols by the NBA and that was gonna get you additional time off. It was about the time before that in Boston when you took time off. It was about KD’s first season where you played only 20 games you didn’t go to the bubble and people were speculating you hurt but you could come back and play… All these things happened and all of it contributed to the narrative.”
Stephen A. Smith didn’t just end it there and further went into more details as he quoted: “Kyrie and I will probably never speak again in life. I assure you, I won’t lose a minute of sleep over it. And, the reason why is because we talking basketball. You are a phenomenal talent who is worth of 50 million a year… All you gotta do is show up… I am going to give him 250 million dollars for 4 years I won’t even blink because he deserves it. He is box office. But the issue is, you gotta be committed to showing up to work. The lack of commitment that people suspect he has, that’s on him, not us.”
Also Read: “Kobe, Magic, Shaq….” LeBron James snubs All-Time Great from his starting 5 for LA Lakers
Can Kyrie Irving win Stephen A. Smith’s and others respect back?
Kyrie Irving can surely win all the respect back. And, honestly, the take by Stephen A. Smith isn’t wrong and is pretty balanced. We should also not forget that the analyst has him winning the MVP award next year because he already believes him and knows the potential he has. But for all that to happen and for the Nets to end up on the winning end, Kyrie will have to be committed and trust the process by building up bridges with the system and management.
The Brooklyn Nets this year have all the right pieces to win it all. As their superstar duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant is back in business and now they also got Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Markieff Morris. They still look to improve their roster and get even better. But even if they don’t they are very capable of winning it all. They just have to pick a rhythm and build a strong chemistry around and if they do so they are a real threat to the league. As it won’t be easy for anyone to take them down.
Also Read: “This year is all about accountability” Derrick Rose throws shade at Julius Randle like a gentleman
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Ritik Malik
(1743 Articles Published)