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- Stephen A. Smith used a Kobe Bryant tribute to criticize current NBA players over a variety of issues
- People were not happy that the ESPN talking head used the anniversary of the death of the basketball legend to air some petty grievances
- Read more NBA news here
It’s hard to believe Wednesday marked the second anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the seven other people on board, a development that still feels almost as surreal as it did when the news broke on that Sunday in 2020.
People around the basketball world remembered the fallen legend on a day when a statue of Kobe and Gianna was placed at the site of the accident, and while Stephen A. Smith also used the occasion to pay tribute to Bryant, it’s safe to say plenty of people were less than thrilled with the route he opted to take.
The ESPN personality took a few minutes to reflect on the impact Bryant had on the game alongside Mike Greenberg on Get Up, and while there weren’t any glaring issues with that segment, the same can’t be said about a prerecorded video that also aired on the network.
In the package, Smith alluded to Bryant’s tireless work ethic while throwing shade at Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons for voluntarily missing games for a variety of well-documented (albeit somewhat controversial) reasons.
Stephen A used a Kobe tribute to throw shots at players. You’re disgusting bruh @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/KXaWpgmAaX
— Zeke 💫 (@Zeke2Smooth) January 26, 2022
Smith was obviously implying that Bryant would’ve never let the issues that have led to that trio abstaining from action stand between him and the basketball court, but it’s easy to understand why plenty of people took issue with that assertion.
Even if you ignore the fact that Smith has repeatedly admitted he wasn’t incredibly close with Bryant, his decision to use the tribute as a vehicle for his own pettiness was wildly tone-deaf, and it’s easy to understand why he caught a ton of heat after the clip started to make the rounds.
https://twitter.com/rocc_da_luxx/status/1486412774318116865
This is NASTY BUSINESS by @ESPN and @stephenasmith that man is resting in peace and you turn a tribute to him into a chance to take shots at others
Kobe would've NEVER cosigned this https://t.co/jjbZTOuG17
— 🇯🇲BadBadLeroyBrown🇯🇲 (@BadBadLeroyBro7) January 27, 2022
Stephen A. Smith really used a Kobe Bryant tribute to slander Kyrie Irving, he’s a disgusting human being.
— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) January 27, 2022
That was really fuckin distasteful @stephenasmith . A Kobe tribute isn’t the time or place to try to make a statement against anyone sitting for their beliefs against the vaccine and I say this as a vaccinated person. This isn’t the place or time for that convo. 🌽
— Arizona Ron 🥧 🫡 (@Earl__91) January 26, 2022
This dude @stephenasmith really took it to a all time low you make a Kobe tribute and still found a way to take a shot at @KyrieIrving like man get that dude out your mind. Just pitiful 🤦🏾♂️😂😂
— Daris P (@DarisP3) January 26, 2022
https://twitter.com/00Jets/status/1486479750658985993
Not a great look.