Stephen A. Smith is at it again, and this time the backlash is real. The ESPN First Take host made comments about the Lakers’ recent free agency moves that many are calling out as racially charged, and social media is not letting it slide.
Smith went on air Wednesday and questioned the Lakers’ decision to build around Austin Reaves, calling out the direction of the roster in a way that drew immediate criticism. He specifically referenced the Walker Kessler trade and the Reaves extension in a segment that has since gone viral for the wrong reasons.
The Lakers just signed Austin Reaves to a four-year, $185 million contract. That is the largest deal ever given to an undrafted player in NBA history. They also traded for Walker Kessler, an elite rim protector. On paper, this is a smart, forward-thinking roster build.
Smith did not see it that way. He questioned whether the Lakers were building the right kind of team, and his phrasing rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Prominent former players and current media figures have called him out.
The Lakers have made their moves. Reaves is a legitimate All-Star candidate. He averaged over 20 points per game last year and shot 39 percent from three. He is 27 years old, which is prime for a guard. Signing him to that deal was smart business.
Walker Kessler is another story. The Utah center is one of the best rim protectors in basketball. He led the league in blocks last season. Pairing him with LeBron or a new veteran signing gives the Lakers a defensive anchor they have not had in years.
So the criticism from Smith does not hold up on basketball grounds. This is a good roster. The Lakers spent $131 million total on the Kessler-Reaves package, and they got their point guard and their center for the future.
Smith’s ratings are down. First Take has been losing viewers to podcasts and independent creators for years. Some are speculating that he is turning up the heat on hot takes to try to reclaim the news cycle. If that is the strategy, it is backfiring.
Former NBA player Kenyon Martin took a shot at Smith earlier this year for similar comments about the Lakers roster construction. Now Martin is not alone. Current players are quietly voicing frustration with Smith’s takes about specific players and teams.
The ESPN response has been muted so far. The network stood by Smith earlier this year when similar controversies popped up. But the pattern is becoming harder to defend. Smith is not the same voice he was five years ago, when his takes felt fresh and provocative in a good way.
The Lakers will not respond publicly. That is not their style. But you can bet the front office noticed. Rob Pelinka has been building a specific kind of team, and Smith’s public criticism is not going to change the plan.
Where does this leave Smith? Probably in the same place he has been. He will apologize, or he will double down. Either way, First Take will still air Thursday morning, and Smith will still be the loudest voice on the show.
The bigger question is whether ESPN starts caring. The network’s biggest talent should probably not be making comments that alienate large chunks of their audience. But ratings are ratings, and controversy still drives clicks.
The Lakers should be judged on the court next season. If Reaves and Kessler produce, the front office looks smart. If they do not, Smith will get to say I told you so. That is the actual debate here. Everything else is just noise.
For now, Smith is once again the story instead of the storyteller. That is not a good look for a $12 million a year analyst. Expect ESPN to have some internal conversations before Monday’s show.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
