Stephen A. Smith Unleashes on Kyrie Irving Amidst Trade Request

The ESPN analyst didn’t hold back in his rant on Irving’s history of drama.

Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets prior to next Thursday's deadline. 

The Miami Heat, who were favorites to get Irving last summer are among the many teams with interest. The news has shaken up the NBA world but ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. Smith had a lengthy critical response to Irving’s request.

"Idiotic... All we ever questioned was: can the man go the rest of the season without being any kind of distraction, if he's gonna have a chance to get his money. And lo and behold he pulls this."

Stephen A. Smith on Kyrie Irving's trade request 😳https://t.co/f7Kmq6qaTA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 4, 2023

“It’s idiotic,” Smith said on NBA Today. “Here’s a guy who in the last three years has gotten most of his money, but missed more than 50 percent of his games. He was playing spectacular basketball and reminding everybody of the superstar basketball player he is. No one questioned that. All we ever questioned was can the man go the rest of the season without being any kind of distraction? And low and behold he pulls this.”

Kyrie Irving’s camp did not negotiate after Brooklyn Nets presented an offer that was tied to team winning a championship, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport. Told the issue was not about money, and now it’s said he wouldn’t even stay if offered a full max contract.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 3, 2023

Irving is having an All-star season but has reverted to controversy. He is in the final season of his contract, and the Nets have failed to agree to terms on an extension. To Smith’s point, Irving has yet to play a full season in Brooklyn because of injuries and off-court issues. However, reports are now saying Irving will not stay even if he gets extension offers. NBA insider Chris Haynes said Irving was insulted by the new proposition.

“Kyrie Irving’s camp did not negotiate after the Brooklyn Nets presented an offer that was tied to the team winning a championship,” Haynes tweeted. “Told the issue was not about money, and now it’s said he wouldn’t even stay if offered a full max contract.”

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.