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- Stephen A. Smith has contradicted his former self with his new opinion regarding Kyrie Irving’s playing status.
- Smith seems to have changed his tune about the matter after hearing NBA commissioner Adam Silver speak on it.
- Be sure to check out more sports stories at BroBible here.
Stephen A. Smith certainly wasn’t the only person in sports media to blast Kyrie Irving following his decision to get the vaccine, but he very well may have been the most passionate. Now, Smith has completely changed his mind regarding Irving.
Back in September, Smith literally screamed for the Nets to trade Irving because he refused to take the vaccine, which prevented him from playing home games in Brooklyn.
“Trade him,” Smith shouted. If he ain’t gonna take the vaccine and he can’t play half your home games, trade him.”
Fast-forward to January, and Smith said that it would be a “disaster for the game of basketball” if the Nets were to win the NBA title this season. He came to that opinion due to his frustrations with Irving’s choice not to get the shot and him previously taking time away for mental health.
Stephen A. Smith Dramatically Changes His Tune On Kyrie Irving’s Playing Status
A lot has changed in the world since Smith originally shouted for the Nets to trade Irving, including Smith’s own opinion about Irving’s playing status and New York City’s mandates.
Smith now believes that Irving should be allowed to play home games immediately.
“I’ve been critical of Kyrie Irving. I didn’t stutter, I’m not backing up, I meant every damn word I said,” Smith explained on Monday’s edition of ‘First Take.’ “That does not mean what New York has done to him is right, it is not.”
“Kyrie Irving should have never been prevented from playing a game at the Barclays Center this season. The city of New York’s rule is bogus, it is ridiculous and it has no business being in place.”
Smith went on to explain that New York City’s rule that forbids unvaccinated home team players from playing in games, but an unvaccinated visiting player could play makes zero sense.
He then emphatically stated that “Kyrie Irving should be allowed to play effective immediately.”
Why Stephen A. Smith Changed His Mind About Kyrie Irving
Smith’s realization about Irving’s status comes after the fact that, this past weekend, New York City mayor Eric Adams announced that vaccination requirements for indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment venues will be lifted on March 7.
Mayor Adams’ announcement comes two weeks after NBA commissioner Adam Silver called the city out for the mandate that was keeping unvaccinated players from playing home games. Silver said the mandate “doesn’t make sense” given the fact unvaccinated visiting players could play at Barclays Center, but Irving couldn’t.
With the mayor’s announcement, one would think that this would mean Irving would be allowed to play home games starting on March 7, but that isn’t the case.
Private sectors operate with different mandates in New York City, so as it stands now, Irving would still be banned from playing games in Brooklyn. He would, however, be able to attend games and sit on the team’s bench, just not take the floor.
The mandate makes absolutely zero sense, and Smith realizes that, but he only came to the realization after the city’s mayor and the league commissioner pointed out that the mandate makes no sense.