Fansided

Stephen A. Smith vehemently disagrees with Kyrie Irving over NBA not returning

By Josh Hill

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 31: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on January 31, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls 133-118. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 31: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on January 31, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls 133-118. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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Kyrie Irving has been a lightning rod for hot takes after he came out against the NBA returning in 2020. 

It seems that we will soon have the NBA back in our lives, as the league’s plan to return to action continues to gain momentum. Despite the initial excitement over basketball returning after having its season suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation took a turn after Kyrie Irving voiced concern over the league restarting.

Irving’s comments were made on a player’s call late last week in which he openly pondered if basketball returning would distract from the social justice protests that have been ongoing since the death of George Floyd in May.

“I don’t support going into Orlando,” Irving reportedly said on the call. “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy.”

NBA players have come out in support of Irving, most notably Lou Williams who spent the weekend explaining to fans that a distraction is the last thing anyone needs right now.

Stephen A. Smith, however, is not among those agreeing with Kyrie. Smith was on First Take Monday morning and went on the record as being against Irving and the idea of holding off on basketball returning.

Stephen A. Smith says not playing basketball won’t help social justice

Smith argues that Irving would be justified if his issue with returning involved the coronavirus and public health. But the fact that racial inequality and injustice have been an issue in America since it’s founding is not a good reason to not go to work.

This directly clashes with the argument being made by many that sports as a distraction would not be particularly helpful at this moment in history.

Smith is not alone in pushing back on the idea of continuing to suspend basketball in the name of social justice. ESPN, which owns the rights to NBA broadcasts, called Kyrie a ‘disruptor’ last week and compared his comments in the player’s call to not being a good teammate while with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Smith also used a commonly relied upon defense by detractors that Irving is injured and not playing, which somehow makes his concerns less valid.

Outside of the media, fellow players like Austin Rivers have also questioned whether Irving is on to something or not with trying to prevent the NBA season from resuming in the name of social justice.

A detail overlooked in this is Irving saying on the call that he would support players if they agreed that returning to action was what everyone wanted to do. Irving simply voiced his concern with the plan.

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