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Stephen A. Smith Gets Destroyed For Using Kobe Bryant Tribute To Push Personal Agenda: “Unnecessary & Unprofessional”
Two years ago yesterday, on January 26, 2020, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among the nine people on board the helicopter that crashed and left no survivors in Calabasas, California.
Just like us, the entire basketball world took some extra time to remember the legend yesterday, by sharing some of his greatest plays, stories and actions – of which there were plenty in every possible way.
Stephen A. Smith however, decided to use a Kobe montage to unnecessarily take shots at various NBA players. As footage of Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving appeared, Smith said:
“Players missing games for reasons that have nothing to do with injury. That was not Kobe Bryant.
Players collecting paychecks without regard to regular season participation, that was not Kobe Bryant. Players prioritizing any and everything but championships, that was not Kobe Bryant.”
This led to NBA Twitter react accordingly, and Smith was slammed for his unfortunate take.
“Is he wrong?” Using a tribute to push personal agendas is nasty. Idc what y’all talking about.
— Zeke (@ThatBoyZek) January 26, 2022
Missing games for nothing? This is low even for SAS
Since 2018 Kawhi had a chronic quad injury, and now ACL injury.— Rebirth_Of_Soul (@TrevorMartinTho) January 26, 2022
This is generational agenda pushing LMFAO
— ❄️♿️ nizcomix (@nizcomix) January 26, 2022
I’ve been seeing a lot of people using Kobe’s death just to push an agenda
It’s honestly distasteful and I hope you guys stop that shit ASAP https://t.co/T13t7juN63
— Omo Mustard (@yungmustard23) January 26, 2022
this is like US politics level of shameless https://t.co/dRxIUO0wKr
— PinkRanger (@Saint_Joy_) January 26, 2022
@stephenasmith been a sale out bruh fr https://t.co/RbzJtuV0A3
— Deezy (@Deezy1994) January 26, 2022
This is so bad in taste, wtf he on https://t.co/u25dGQAvbY
— (@BENJAYLATREZ) January 26, 2022
Yeah this is gross https://t.co/EsNE6KIf9d
— TheIiteKing (@OdeezyFbaby) January 26, 2022
You can uplift and praise a person without having to take shots and put down another person…so corny man https://t.co/dv4979Tdxd
— TMC (@nikerules301) January 26, 2022
Using a tribute to push a personal agenda is nasty lmao https://t.co/NgwCbMdE1k
— Jimmy Gjikopulli (@JimmyGjikopulli) January 26, 2022
using a memorial to push such a nasty agenda ♂️♂️ https://t.co/yAbEprXtWu
— M (@maximahii) January 26, 2022
This out of pocket man https://t.co/iGdcflgnjP
— 500 (@Kameron_Hay) January 26, 2022
nahhh the shade is unnecessary and unprofessional lol we done with you bro @stephenasmith https://t.co/ruXrhOiSWl
— ⛴✌ (@NBADL2) January 26, 2022
