Stephen A makes strange statement about possible Steph-LeBron couple originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Stephen A. Smith has strong opinions on LeBron James hypothetically join Steph Curry and the warriors.
The ESPN analyst explained why he wouldn’t like to see the fellow Olympians together in San Francisco.
“As a fan, visually speaking, LeBron with Steph Curry would be special,” Smith said on Tuesday’s “First Take.” “I have no doubt about that… I don’t want to see it because LeBron James doesn’t deserve it, absolutely not. LeBron James doesn’t deserve to be with Steph Curry, here’s why: Stay right there in Los Angeles. You won a championship in the bubble, I understand that the following year you lost the first round.
“We’re so caught up in the greatness of LeBron James as an individual player, and he’s on the Mount Rushmore of all time, I get it. There is no shade there. But we’re so caught up in player greatness that we don’t pay enough attention to the power of his influence and the moves he forces to make that serve to 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 approached the Los Angeles Lakers about negotiating last season, James reportedly had no interest. Given how well Curry and James combined in winning the gold medal for team USA In Paris, many in the league continue to speculate about the possibility of the two sharing the court in the NBA.
Under 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 draft picks. Considering James turned down previous trade proposals, it’s unlikely he wants to leave Los Angeles.
The Lakers are currently mired in a slump, with a record of 3-7 in their last 10 games. Los Angeles won the 2020 NBA Finals in the Orlando bubble, but has only reached one Western Conference Final since. It remains to be seen whether growing frustration over continued mediocrity would be enough to make james He wants his fourth NBA franchise.
For Smith, James leaving the Lakers in a state of turmoil would be in bad taste, although Warriors fans would disagree.
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