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Kyrie Irving isn’t one to bite his tongue — whether it’s about hoops, health, or now, high-profile media contracts.
During a Twitch stream Friday night, the Dallas Mavericks star threw some pointed commentary at ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, questioning the five-year, $100 million deal Smith recently secured to remain the face of the network’s NBA coverage.
“I’m going to discuss his contract. I’m going to discuss Stephen A’s contract and I’mma say: ‘I don’t think you’re worth it,’” Kyrie said bluntly to viewers.
To be clear, Kyrie wasn’t just aiming for shock value. He framed the moment as a reflection on how players constantly have their earnings dissected by media figures like Smith — and wondered how it would feel if the tables were turned.
“It’s like, how would y’all feel if I did that to y’all the way y’all do it to us?” he suggested, using Smith’s payday as an example.
Later in the stream, Kyrie even compared Smith’s nine-figure bag to Victor Wembanyama’s rookie contract with the Spurs, subtly highlighting how much more pressure players face when it comes to value debates.
The timing isn’t random either. Smith’s Finals coverage has caught criticism from fans lately, making Kyrie’s jab hit that much sharper.
The irony? Back when Kyrie signed his own three-year, $119 million deal with Dallas, Stephen A. actually went to bat for him, arguing he was worth even more. But anyone who’s followed their history — dating back to Kyrie’s Brooklyn Nets run — knows that mutual respect doesn’t always mean holding back shots.
Kyrie’s latest comment just adds another chapter to their ongoing, very public back-and-forth.
