Stephen A. Smith rants about player ‘entitlement’ after Nets’ Kevin Durant saga ends

Stephen A. Smith emphasised that the Nets debacle this offseason has set NBA gamers again for “many years.”

The house owners, he mentioned, should not towards participant “empowerment” however are in united opposition to “entitlement.”

On Wednesday’s version of “First Take”, Smith was discussing the latest occasions with Brian Windhorst and Chris Russo. The Nets have reached a detente with Kevin Durant, however based on Smith, it has put a poor style in house owners’ mouths throughout the league that Kyrie Irving desires a long-term assured contract price about $50 million a yr when his work attendance is inconsistent, and that Durant had the audacity to ask for a commerce with 4 years and $198 million left on his deal.

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have apparently aggravated the NBA possession ranks.

NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Stephen A. Smith mentioned different NBA house owners are glad that Joe Tsai refused to commerce Kevin Durant.

NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Smith preceded his criticism by praising Durant for at all times exhibiting as much as play onerous throughout the rigors of the season, however discovered his commerce demand laughable.

“It doesn’t must be collusion — how will you be receptive to paying dudes who don’t need to play?” Smith mentioned of Irving earlier than directing his rant at Durant. “You signed a contract extension for 4 years and $198 million. And earlier than in the future of that contract was honored, you requested out. How will you be supportive of that? You don’t must collude with different house owners when it comes to your mindset to say ‘sufficient of this.'”

"What has occurred in Brooklyn alone is sufficient to have set NBA gamers again many years!"

—@stephenasmith on the dynamic in Brooklyn. pic.twitter.com/7bktAFdKwr

— First Take (@FirstTake) August 24, 2022

“I've by no means seen house owners this gung ho. They’re uninterested in it!” Smith mentioned. “What has occurred in Brooklyn alone is sufficient to have set NBA gamers again many years. That’s the type of injury that the nonsense that’s been happening has executed. So, to allow them to get away with it this time, it couldn't occur! As a result of if it did, it might’ve modified the course of empowerment eternally.

“Empowerment, individuals don’t have an issue with — entitlement is what they've the problem with. That was the confusion, and that was why Joe Tsai took this place. Each proprietor that I do know has mentioned, unsolicited, kudos to him — they usually imply it.”