Dallas Mavericks star point guard Kyrie Irving is at the center of criticism almost every year. From fans to analysts on TV, Irving has often received major backlash for his actions. One of the analysts who has really criticized him over the years is ESPN?s Stephen A. Smith. Irving was under a lot of scrutiny in 2021 when he took some time off the floor due to personal reasons. More criticism followed this when he decided not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But it finally looks like Smith has admitted why he has strong opinions about Irving.
Former Chicago Bulls player Jay Williams joined Stephen A. Smith on his show, ?First Take’ a few weeks back. Things soon took a turn for the worse when Williams called out Smith for having personal reasons to criticize Irving. While it was met with criticism at the time, it now seems Williams wasn’t wrong with his assessment.
Stephen A. Smith finally admitted his true feelings
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Stephen A. Smith has always had strong opinions about teams or players. He is not shy in holding back his emotions either. But it looks like Smith has finally admitted to having personal reasons to have a beef with Irving.
According to a report by ?Awful Announcing,? Stephen A. Smith said, ?Kyrie and I have our differences on a personal level, which is none of anybody?s business and I?ll never tell why. He knows why. And his daddy knows why.?
Read More – Stephen A. Smith Raises Serious Trust Issues With Kyrie Irving
Smith?s comments regarding Irving and his father did not sit well with fans. One fan tweeted, ?So basically Stephen A is ready to snitch on the personal beef!!?
So basically Stephen A is ready to snitch on the personal beef!!
— Van (@vanman_1000) March 12, 2023
While another fan commented, ?Everyone knows he had a personal beef with Kyrie. He should not speak about Kyrie because he cannot be objective with his criticism.? Shout out to Jay Will for being spot on.?
Everyone knows he had a personal beef with Kyrie. He should not speak about Kyrie because he cannot be objective with his criticism. Shout out to Jay Will for being spot on.
— Saint Pablo (@SaintPabloThe1) March 12, 2023
Here are a few more reactions from fans on Twitter.
So, nobody considers the idea that it started with a professional matter and spilled into a personal issue down the line ? It doesn’t mean Jay Will was right WHEN he said what he said .
— Bokeh Woodbine 📸 (@ChiefRaket) March 12, 2023
https://twitter.com/Liquidity_Snake/status/1634964879558991873?s=20
LOL, facts Yoda… it’s obvious he’s been feeling a way about Kyrie!
— TheUrbanCEO (@TyronMcDaniel) March 13, 2023
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/wrf8QiT2B2
— Bay Area King 👑 G-list Celebrity (@Iam_ghostryder) March 12, 2023
There were a few fans who agreed with Jay Williams calling out Stephen A. Smith, while others mocked the ESPN analyst.
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Kyrie Irving fits well with his new team
Kyrie Irving seems to be a perfect fit with his new team. Averaging 32.5 PPG for the month of March so far, Irving has made the most of his time with Dallas. Moreover, he has been able to share the ball exceptionally well with Luka Doncic.
Watch This Story – Top 5 NBA coaches’ salary compared to Stephen A. Smith
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The Dallas Mavericks have a 34-34 season record putting them in the eighth position in the Western Conference. Since the arrival of Irving, the team has lost 8 out of the 13 games they have played. But there are enough games left for this new duo to work things out and go on a winning streak.
One great thing about Irving is he does not let comments and adversity affect his on-court performance. Let?s see if he gives a response to Stephen A. Smith?s comments regarding him and his father.