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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith leaves Nets after Warriors loss, Kyrie Irving ‘betrayed’ Kevin Durant



Stephen A. Smith attended Tuesday night’s game between the Nets and the Warriors. He doesn’t like what he sees from Brooklyn – and that’s mild.

The ESPN analyst lifted the Nets in Wednesday’s edition of “First Take” after watching the Warriors hand them a 111-99 loss at the Barclays Center. Golden State took a 22-point lead late in the third half, prompting Brooklyn coach Steve Nash to wave the white flag and pull Kevin Durant and James Harden out of the game. Warriors star Stephen Curry continued what had begun as an electric start, scoring a game-high 37 on a 12/19 shot and winning the MVP in the Nets’ home game.

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Smith claimed that Durant was “completely alone” in Brooklyn and “made the wrong decision” to join the franchise in 2019. He also dumped Harden because of his poor play, ripping off Kyrie Irving for his “betrayal” to Durant and appealed to Nets fans for their lack of spirit.

That’s a lot. His full comment:

“Kevin Durant made the wrong decision to go to [the Nets], and he will prepare the day that he did it. And let’s analyze why that is. Because you have a guy in James Harden – not the first year, this is the second year in a row – madly in love with James Harden. You have to act together, man. Now you’re not James Harden, averaging 19 points a game. You’re sitting there struggling from the field. He had 24 points last night. That’s the 24 most pointless points I’ve seen in James Harden’s career. You are a superstar, and you are like no other. It is simple. You have to get it together.

“KD, you made the wrong decision, man. And here’s why: Because you trusted Kyrie. Kyrie Irving betrayed you, betrayed you outright, got you hanged. And when you did. was sitting on it and got kicked in the butt last night, Okay, Steph Curry was sitting there laughing on the pitch They’ve been cheering for Steph Curry in Brooklyn from the opening minute They were chanting ‘MVP’ in Barclays Center, and it’s not for the average guy, 28.9, just one game for the Brooklyn Nets. It’s for Steph Curry. And then you stack Steph Curry against Kyrie Irving, and what do you have? You have Kyrie Irving, a presenter, Kyrie Irving, a super talented superstar. He’s at the top of the box office and can’t be trusted. I really hope Kyrie Irving gets cut.

“I mean, it’s a disgrace, to sit up there and watch this team last night look like garbage. And every respectable team you’ve played against – you’ve lost to Chicago by double digits. You’ve got it. beaten by Golden State last night by double digits You lost to the Charlotte Hornets by double digits You were beaten opening night by double digits to Milwaukee Every respectable team you go up against the guys behind are all the people behind.And why?Because KD has no help.You are left there alone.You have no culture.

“You don’t even have a damn fan base. Brooklyn stand up? I don’t want to hear that nonsense again. Brooklyn, the borough of Brooklyn, should be ashamed of himself. The only damn thing At the Barclays Center are the franchisees and the traffic handlers in and out of the arena, like my little boy Tony and Jose and the crew. That’s the only good thing about the Barclays Center. just died. You walked up there, no fan base to attract forward. No motivation. No enthusiasm. No passion. Nothing. I’m showing more passion in the future. this studio by my damn self more than 17,700 [fans] premiered at the Barclays Center for the Brooklyn Nets last night.

“KD shouldn’t even want to be there. He shouldn’t even waste his services there.”

The nets ended up 10-5, behind only the Wizards (10-3) and the Bulls (10-4) in the Eastern Conference standings. They have won eight of their last 10 games and they haven’t gotten a minute from Irving, who will continue to be away from the team until he complies with local health and safety regulations. Smith paints an ugly picture, but things could be much worse.

However, even Nash admits that the Nets are not in the top tier of the NBA.

“I really don’t think we’re in that category,” Nash told reporters on Tuesday. “We still have a lot of work to do.”

It’s safe to say that Smith agrees with Nash’s assessment.

You can watch the entire segment from “First Take” below.





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