Stephen A. Smith Stands By Criticism of Kawhi Leonard Despite Troubling Family News

The ESPN personality ripped the Clippers star the same day the player’s sister was sentenced to life in prison.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith doubled down on his criticism of Kawhi Leonard on Monday after it was revealed that the Clippers star’s sister was sentenced to life in prison for murder the same day Smith ripped Leonard.

“You know, I said some things on this show last week about Kawhi Leonard as a superstar. I meant every word of it,” Smith said on First Take. “Having said all of that, I said it unaware of some of the personal things his family has gotten into. 

“I had no knowledge of that at the time that I said it,” Smith continued. “Otherwise, obviously, I would not have said it. It still has nothing to do with it, doesn’t change my opinion. I was just talking about him as a marketable star. But nevertheless, that subject would have been saved for another day had I known that.” 

"I said some things last week about Kawhi Leonard as a superstar. I meant every word of it. Having said all that, I said it unaware of some of the personal things his family has gotten into. I had no knowledge of that at the time."

— Stephen A. Smithpic.twitter.com/m10WCvFjuj https://t.co/b12h73MTL8

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 24, 2023

On Friday, during an episode of First Take, Smith called Leonard “one of the worst superstars” the NBA has ever seen, citing his lack of availability in the postseason in recent years and his “load management” during the regular season. Leonard missed Games 3 and 4 against the Suns in the first round of the playoffs due to a knee sprain.

That same day, his sister, Kimesha Williams, received a life sentence for her role in the 2019 murder of an elderly woman in a casino bathroom in Temecula, Calif.