The Brooklyn Nets were undone on their home floor on Tuesday night by Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The sharpshooter gashed Brooklyn for 37 points and got plenty of help from his teammates in the Warriors 117-99 victory.
Stephen A. Smith was keeping a close eye on the game last night and has been outspoken about his love for Golden State so far this season. But on Wednesday morning, he dedicated over three minutes of First Take to unload on the Nets.
Smith first apologized to Kevin Durant, saying that he felt bad for the 11-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion because he had no help in Brooklyn. The First Take host explained that the 33-year-old made a mistake in joining the Nets, because he trusted Kyrie Irving to be his playing partner.
“K.D., I’m sad for you bro. You’re all alone. You have no help… K.D. you made the wrong decision bro and here’s why: because you trusted Kyrie. Kyrie Irving betrayed you. Flat out betrayed you,” Smith said Wednesday morning on ESPN. “Left you hanging. And while you’re sitting up there getting your ass kicked last night … they were cheering for Steph Curry in Brooklyn. From opening tap. They were chanting MVP in the Barclays Center and it wasn’t for the dude averaging 28.9 points per game … You juxtapose Steph Curry compared to Kyrie Irving, and what do you have? Kyrie Irving is a show stopper, a superstar talent, and can’t be trusted. I actually hope Kyrie Irving gets cut.”
In addition to going after Durant and Irving, Smith criticized former MVP James Harden for his poor play to start the year and the entire borough of Brooklyn for its lack of support for the Nets. Essentially, he did his best to dismantle the entire organization and the area in which the team plays.
Here’s a clip of his full rant on Wednesday morning:
“Kevin Durant, I’m sad for you bro. … You have no help. And more importantly than anything else, you made the wrong decision by going to Brooklyn. … KYRIE IRVING BETRAYED YOU!”@stephenasmith LOST IT 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/gjw5tAZVcO
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 17, 2021
The NBA world has become accustomed to rants like this from Smith, but was largely taken aback by his remarks on Wednesday, for a variety reasons.
Firstly, the Nets are still 10-5 and third in the Eastern Conference in the early part of the year. Head coach Steve Nash is figuring out how to incorporate a handful of new veterans such as Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge to the rotation, while still executing a gameplan that best compliments his star players.
Durant has been masterful through the first 15 games, leading the league in scoring, while shooting nearly 57 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. Harden, although posting some of his worst career numbers, is still rounding into shape after injuring his hamstring last year and shouldn’t be so easily discounted by anyone at this stage of the season.
As a result, much of the NBA world wanted Smith to pump the brakes on his criticism of the Nets so early in the year.
🤣😂🤣… remember.. it’s called Sports and Entertainment…. this is more of the latter though! https://t.co/kUzrOYLeCL
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) November 17, 2021
I disagree! I actually think the Warriors are just the better TEAM with a better coaching staff! Don’t mind me tho Carry on… @stephenasmith https://t.co/TXFCtMYOlE
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) November 17, 2021
Harden led them in scoring yesterday but he gta go 😂😂😂 Make that make sense ? 😒😂 It wouldn’t be popular enough to say KD was just off yesterday and they gta play some damn defense huh ? If you gon be a fan boy instead of keeping it real just don’t say shyt at all ! https://t.co/TNluPxhOES
— Famouslos32 (@famouslos32) November 17, 2021
Harden is no help now lmao. Harden has lost a step but SAS making him out to be Boobie Gibson https://t.co/7x1gwNXmNo
— Josh Eberley🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) November 17, 2021
Smith is likely right about one thing: the Brooklyn Nets, with the way they’re playing right now, are not a championship basketball team.
However, the organization has plenty of time to get its act together and be ready to contend when the playoffs roll around next spring.
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