Smith also stated that Durant deserves a lot better than what Kyrie is giving him and said that KD did not pick the right partner when he decided to team up with Kyrie in Brooklyn.
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The Brooklyn Nets came into the NBA season with high expectations but failed to deliver on anything substantial. Kevin Durant carried the load for most of the season ad Kyrie Irving joined them, for the away games initially till the vaccine mandates were lifted in New York. That proved to be a major deterrent in their quest to finish higher up the Eastern Conference table. In the end, they finished seventh and were knocked out in the first round by the Boston Celtics, who completed a comprehensive 4-0 sweep of the Nets, much to the shock of KD and Kyrie.
Irving was heavily criticised for his refusal to take the vaccine and one of the main men who took a shot at him was none other than Stephen A. Smith. He has been regularly criticising Kyrie on this issue and on ESPN First Take, he went a bit further and said that Kevin Durant deserves a lot better than Kyrie Irving and accused him of having priorities other than playing basketball. Smith ranted, “Kyrie Irving works hard. Kyrie Irving is phenomenal and great. He cares about being great but it is very, very big to him to do things his own way. Kevin Durant is a dude, I don’t give a damn where he goes. He goes with his sneakers on, ready to pick up a basketball and ball at any given moment. Kyrie Irving is the kind of dude, there is just a lot of things more important than basketball.”
Smith also stated that Durant deserves a lot better than what Kyrie is giving him and said that KD did not pick the right partner when he decided to team up with Kyrie in Brooklyn. “In order to win, you’ve got to pick the right partner”, Smith said. “KD deserves better than what Kyrie is giving him. Not what Kyrie is capable of, what Kyrie has given him. KD deserves better. There is no one who can refute that. No one.”
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JJ Redick though was not on board with Stephen A. Smith and said that no matter what happened in Golden State, Durant had made his decision to go play with Kyrie Irving and that nothing was going to change that. Redick said, “I do think it is important to note though when we talk about that decision to leave Golden State and team up with Kyrie, that decision was made a year prior to 2019 summer. Whatever happened that last year with Golden State, Kevin Durant was going to leave and play with Kyrie Irving. That decision was made a long time ago regardless of whatever else happened.”
