Stephen A makes a strange statement about a possible link between Steph and LeBron, which originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Stephen A. Smith has some strong opinions about LeBron James hypothetically joining Steph Curry and the Warriors.
The ESPN analyst explained why he wouldn’t want to see the Olympic teammates together in San Francisco.
“As a fan, LeBron with Steph Curry would be visually special,” Smith said Tuesday during “First Take.” “I have no doubt about that…I don’t want to see it because LeBron James doesn’t deserve it, not at all. LeBron James doesn’t deserve to be with Steph Curry, and here’s why: Stay there in LA. You won a championship in the bubble, I understand you lost the first round the following year.
“We get so caught up in the greatness of LeBron James, the individual player, and he’s always on the Mount Rushmore, I understand. No shade there. But we get so caught up in his greatness as a player that we don’t pay enough attention to the power of his influence and the moves he forces to make that derail a franchise like he did in Los Angeles. No, you can’t leave that and go to Golden State. Stay there in Southern California with Anthony Davis and find out.
While Golden State reached out to the Los Angeles Lakers about a trade last season, James reportedly wasn’t interested. Considering how well Curry and James worked together in winning the gold medal for Team USA in Paris, many around the league continue to speculate about the two sharing the court in the NBA.
With the current NBA salary cap and luxury tax structure, a trade would require Golden State to part with much of its young talent and future picks. Considering James has rejected previous trade initiatives, it is unlikely he would want to move on from Los Angeles.
The Lakers are currently in a slump, with a 3-7 record over the last ten games. Los Angeles won the 2020 NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble, but has made just one Western Conference finals since. It remains to be seen if the growing frustration over continued mediocrity would be enough to make James long for his fourth NBA franchise.
For Smith, it would be in poor taste if James left the Lakers in a state of disarray, although Warriors fans would disagree.
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