Sports
Stephen A. Smith Defends Kyrie Irving’s COVID-19 Vaccine Stance
BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Stephen A. Smith is standing firmly behind NBA star Kyrie Irving‘s controversial stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. In a recent episode of the podcast "7PM In Brooklyn", Smith declared that Irving was right to refuse the vaccine, saying he has grown more supportive of the player’s views over the years.
During the 2021-2022 NBA season, Irving faced significant backlash for not getting vaccinated, which initially kept him sidelined from all home games. Though the league did not enforce a vaccine mandate, it required players to comply with local regulations.
"Kyrie’s a good brother. We used to butt heads because he used to miss work too damn much," Smith said on the podcast. He expressed his frustrations about Irving’s absence from the court, noting, "I want to see this brother dancing on the basketball court. I don’t want to hear no sh*t about no COVID vaccines." Smith later acknowledged that in hindsight, Irving’s decisions appear to have been justified.
Smith did not elaborate on the "conspiracy theories" he referred to, but his comments coincided with current CDC recommendations that advise most adults to get vaccinated to avoid serious health risks related to COVID-19.
In a slightly different segment of the podcast, Smith also critiqued NBA superstar LeBron James. He expressed deep personal feelings about James, stating, "I don’t like his a–. Not a little bit." Smith accused James of being duplicitous and questioned his genuine intentions over the years.
The friction between Smith and James reportedly dates back to a 2025 incident where James confronted Smith while he was sitting with prominent figures in the sports industry.
Despite the tension, Smith reflected on the implications of nepotism in basketball as he discussed James’ son, Bronny, mentioning a recent game where Bronny struggled to score. He cautioned that such scenarios create challenges for media coverage.
As discussions around Irving’s vaccine stance continue, Smith’s public support opens the door for broader conversations about player autonomy and controversial decisions within professional sports.
