Stephen A Smith gets defensive as ex-Warriors GM calls out media ‘tearing teams apart’

Stephen A. Smith had some kind words for Mavs' Kyrie Irving.

Stephen A Smith gets defensive as ex-Warriors GM calls out media ‘tearing teams apart’

Stephen A Smith

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, establishing a 2-0 lead in the ongoing series. Interestingly before Game 2, on the “Countdown to Tipoff Show,” former Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers shared an interesting take on how the ‘media are tearing teams apart.’ However, Stephen A Smith quickly interrupted his conversation and got defensive on air.

Myers was highlighting how the media portrays players and teams in the good when they win and in the bad when they lose. He mentioned that such tendency has grown among the media nowadays more than ever before.

We tear teams apart more than we ever have, maybe on purpose, maybe that guy down there (allegedly pointing at Stephen A. Smith).
Bob Myers said on the Countdown to Tipoff Show

Smith seemed to think that Myers was taking a dig at him. He got defensive by stating, “not me” on live television. He argued that social media is to blame for tearing teams apart and not him.

FS Video
Not me. Not me. That's social media, not me.
Stephen A. Smith replied

The panel laughed as Myers joked about his initial suggestion and questioned if it might be Smith after all.

Stephen A Smith has kind words for Mavs’ Kyrie Irving

In the past, Stephen A Smith was NBA veteran Kyrie Irving‘s biggest critic. However, Irving’s recent showings on the court have made Smith change his mind as he praised the Mavs player for his outstanding performances in the 2023-24 season. Smith also claimed that it is time to “ignore all the mistakes” regarding Irving.

The way that he's [Irving] worked on his game, and himself, he's earned the right for us to ignore all the mistakes that he made and move forward. Not ignore it like it didn't happen. But look. That was the past. We all make mistakes.
Stephen A. Smith on the Countdown to Tipoff Show

This was somewhat Smith’s way of making peace with Kyrie Irving in the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Mavs performed poorly against the Celtics in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals and are now down 0-2 in the series. Apart from their star man Luka Doncic, all the other players had an off-shooting night. Once again, Irving failed to support Doncic at the TD Garden, scoring only 16 points compared to Doncic’s 32 points against the Celtics.

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