Controversy Surrounding Stephen A. Smith’s Comments on Lakers’ Trio

Stephen A. Smith, a prominent ESPN commentator, has stirred controversy with his comments about the Los Angeles Lakers’ player trio. This trio, statistically the best in the NBA season, is composed of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. Despite their strong performance, Smith doubts their ability to lead the Lakers to a championship. His skepticism is not based on their gameplay but rather their race.

Smith stated, “I do not think [the Lakers] are getting past the second round. I’d be shocked if they did. I’ve never seen an NBA team with its top players being White deliver a championship. It’s not happened, and I don’t think it will happen this year.” He went further to say, “There has never been, in my lifetime, an NBA team led with its top three players being White that delivered a championship with an abundance of Black players in the league. That hasn’t happened, and I don’t see it coming.”

In a previous statement from July, Smith conveyed a similar sentiment but clarified that he never claimed it “couldn’t” happen. This time, however, he was more definitive in dismissing the possibility of a championship led by “three White dudes.”

“There is no basketball explanation for why three White players can’t lead a team to a title,” says Bobby Burack, a writer for OutKick.

Burack points to the demographic makeup of the NBA as a simpler explanation. White players account for about 17% of the league, whereas Black players make up roughly 75%. This disproportion means it is statistically less likely for three White stars to be on the same team.

Comparisons were drawn to the NFL, where a team has never won a Super Bowl with a Black quarterback, head coach, and general manager. Using this as a basis to argue a team must have at least one White leader would be condemned as racist, a point Smith himself might agree with.

Racial double standards emerge in Smith’s statement. There’s an assumption that Black commentators can make belittling comments about White players without facing backlash. This perspective was also highlighted by comments from former NBA player Charlie Villanueva and statements concerning Caitlin Clark in the WNBA.

Dr. Umar Johnson’s remarks on Eminem’s place in hip-hop follow a similar pattern. Johnson contends, “No non-African can ever be the best of anything African.” This belief suggests cultural domains like hip-hop should remain exclusive.

Such rhetoric, whether in sports or cultural discussions, fails to address racism effectively. Racial biases can’t be rectified through reciprocal prejudices.

While Smith questions the capacity of Doncic, Reaves, and Kessler to lead the Lakers to victory, statistics show the Lakers have the 10th-best championship odds. Concerns lie with the supporting cast, which is predominantly Black. This irony further challenges Smith’s argument.

For those questioning Smith’s analysis, it might seem the limitations are not with the “White dudes” but with the narrative built around them.