I’m with Cleveland A Smith #Bensimmonds #Kyrieirving #Nba

·21 min·2 clips

Kyrie Irving stepped on the Celtics logo after beating his former team, and a Boston fan explains why that was childish.

The episode opens with the host stating the topic: Stephen A. Smith and the backlash surrounding Kyrie Irving. He expresses general support for Smith, acknowledging that Smith sometimes says wild things but earned his platform. The host notes that Smith and Skip Bayless were split up because they were the best on TV. He addresses criticism that Smith is anti-black, dismissing it as untrue except possibly in the Kwame Brown incident. The host compares Smith to other analysts like Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, who he says are real but know who to criticize. He then shifts to Kyrie Irving, speaking as a Boston Celtics fan. He recounts Irving's last playoff series with the Celtics against Milwaukee, where they were swept, and describes Irving's poor shot selection. The host details Irving's departure from Boston, calling it weird and fake free agency. He highlights Irving stepping on the Celtics logo after a win with Brooklyn, calling it gay and childish. The host argues Irving hasn't performed well in Brooklyn, missing many games due to injuries and personal reasons. He says Irving seems to avoid playing basketball, cheating fans of his talent. The host transitions to Ben Simmons, calling him a nutcase for changing his reasons for not playing from injuries to mental issues. He mentions Simmons was traded and then denied mental health problems, only to later cite them again. The host references Stephen A. Smith's take on Simmons not playing in a playoff game. He notes that analysts like Reggie Miller are speaking out because they want to see Simmons play. The host briefly mentions Trae Young and the changing dynamics of the NBA. He contrasts how white athletes like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are treated versus black athletes like Irving and Simmons in media criticism. The host concludes by reiterating support for Smith, saying Smith speaks for frustrated fans and isn't as bad as critics claim. He ends with a note on how drama sells in media.

As heard by us

A blunt sports-media review of Smith, Irving, availability, and the appetite for conflict.

Stephen A. Smith's command of his own show and Kyrie Irving's time away from the court make this a pointed argument about sports media, player responsibility, and control of the public conversation.

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Why you'd press play

You want Stephen A. Smith defended, Kyrie Irving pressed, and sports-media drama called out in one smoky, looping monologue.

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