ESPN
Speaking about the firing of Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash, First Take host Stephen A. Smith placed the blame for what has happened to the franchise in recent years at the feet of controversial point guard Kyrie Irving.
Stephen A. Smith blames Kyrie Irving for the collapse of the Brooklyn Nets while Jay Williams says they’re the most unlikable team in NBA history
"There's no one, respectfully, more accountable than Kyrie Irving [for the Nets' issues]."
—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/hhcenLuyqc
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 2, 2022
The latest controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving comes from his promotion of the film “Hebrews to Negroes”, which he shared a link to on Twitter over the weekend. The film is filmed with anti-Semitic tropes, such as its proliferation of a fake Hitler quote about the “true Jews”, while also stating that the six million Jewish people that were killed during the Holocaust is “one of five major falsehoods” and is a result of “the Jewish controlled media.”
Following Stephen A’s rant, fellow analyst Jay Williams proposed that the Kyrie and Kevin Durant-led Nets are the most unlikeable team in the history of the league.
On Tuesday night, following his shocking decision to double down on his anti-Semitic rhetoric and the firing of Steve Nash, Irving — who is making about $34 million this year — posted just four points, seven assists, and six rebounds in a 108-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Reports indicate that the Nets are on the verge of hiring Ime Udoka — who was indefinitely suspended by the Boston Celtics after leading them to the NBA Finals during his first season as head coach — as their next leader, which is shocking given the current climate and culture of the dysfunctional organization.