Stephen A. Smith Rips Kyrie & Dwight Howard For Boycotting NBA Return

BYAlexander Cole4.1K Views
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Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith brought some interesting counterpoints to the NBA return debate.

Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard were all over the news this weekend as they both expressed concerns with continuing the NBA season. Both players feel as though the league would be a distraction to what really matters, which is racial equality and justice for the atrocities committed by police against black people. Many players agree with this sentiment while others believe you can play the games while also bringing attention to social justice, especially since millions of people would be watching the matches.

Today on Get Up!, Stephen A. Smith voiced his opinion on the matter and told Kyrie and Howard that they were ill-informed on the matter. Smith concedes that if their concerns had to do with the virus he would understand. However, Smith feels as though boycotting the season would lead to reduced salaries and that it would be a missed opportunity for players to advocate for change on live television.

Smith also noted that racial inequality won't evaporate tomorrow and that years and maybe even decades of work must be done to eradicate white supremacy. With this in mind, Smith feels as though it is shortsighted to want to cancel the season as a form of protest. The TV host would much rather the players come back, voice their opinions, and let advocacy lawyers make the necessary changes on the judiciary level.

Regardless of where you fall on this debate, it's clear that changes need to be made in our society. Whether or not that means the end of sports, is yet to be determined.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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