Kyrie Irving has never been one to bite his tongue, and during a recent Twitch livestream, the Dallas Mavericks star took aim at a long-standing issue in sports media: the way analysts critique NBA players’ salaries while escaping similar scrutiny themselves. His example? ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
“I’m going to discuss Stephen A’s contract, and I’m going to say he’s not worth it,” Irving said bluntly.
He quickly clarified that the comment wasn’t personal, but rather a rhetorical device to highlight what he sees as a double standard.
“Obviously, Stephen A., this is for an [example],” he added, anticipating that the clip might be taken out of context.
Irving’s remarks come in the wake of Smith’s reported five-year, $100 million deal with ESPN, a figure that exceeds the annual salary of several NBA stars, including San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, who earns $13.7 million per year. The juxtaposition raised eyebrows, especially given Smith’s frequent critiques of players not living up to their contracts.
“Criticism should be a two-way street,” Irving argued,
suggesting that if analysts are going to dissect player performance relative to pay, their own value should be fair game too.
The timing of Irving’s comments is notable. He recently signed a three-year, $119 million extension with Dallas, and has faced his share of media scrutiny over injuries and availability. Smith himself has commented on Irving’s deal, saying the Mavericks “lowballed” him and that he deserved more, adding another layer of irony to the exchange.
Irving’s broader point touches on the evolving media landscape, where athletes are increasingly using their own platforms to challenge narratives and reclaim control of their public image.
“If I were the one to say, ‘Yo, you don’t deserve your contract. You didn’t show up to work,’ people would lose their minds,” Irving said.
