JJ Redick Goes off on Stephen A Smith for Saying Kawhi Leonard Should be Forced to Retire! NBA ESPN

JJ Redick Schools Stephen A Smith for Saying Kawhi Leonard Should be FORCED to Retire! First Take today. NBA today. ESPN First Take. NBA on ESPN. Stephen A Smith heated at JJ Redick. Kawhi Leonard torn meniscus. Los Angeles Clippers eliminated by the Phoenix Suns. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook. Stephen A Smith says Kawhi Leonard is the worst superstar in NBA history. Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe. Undisputed on FS1. First Things First today. Clippers VS Suns. NBA playoffs. NBA news, Suns news, Clippers news.

[@RhandySvg]

“You know how many clipper fans i know” lie number one right there ..

[@NotJam3s]

😂😂😂😂

[@dangriffin3992]

😂😂😂😂

[@jarrettsheppard1165]

🤣🤣🤣😭😭

[@OTSTribalQueen]

Bwahahahahahahaha

[@champspec]

Spot on 😮… knowing Clippers fans is like knowing Oakland A’s fans.

[@DBLACK71811216]

Both have a point it’s a thin line between empathy and expectations when your paid that type of money.

[@series9193]

Expectations vs realistic expectations if the money is the empathy then save his life by trading him !!

[@aedinquinn8687]

What does current CBA state about players like Khawhi who receive max contracts but can't play due to injuries? Fans pay Khawhi's contract, fans aren't receiving product they pay for. Aedin

[@grief6052]

@@aedinquinn8687his sister got fucking life in prison and he tore his goddamn knee open, youd be on your knees begging like a bitch to your boss if he threatened to fire you for losing a family member

[@kylegravel5298]

I know for a fact that kawhi was hurting by the end of 2019… everybody on that team was ! But guess what. Kawhi brought a championship to our city. Thank you Kawhi, we’ll always love you for that

[@user-bo4wq5hx8s]

He beat the bucks and the 76ers on one knee that year. Was crazy

[@FritsBNF]

7 months later I’m here laughing 😂😂😂😂

[@_noahlockhart_]

im here now seeing him play 68 games for 34 minutes a game😭

[@Max-kw2hp]

Kawhi is missing games in 2024 playoffs. Zion missed whole playoffs with injury too.

[@HarveysWorkshop]

Mad dog is stupidly suggesting players should play thru injuries and risk getting seriously injured more. And when they are seriously injured, teams dont want to sign them anymore.

[@darrengordon-hill]

WRONG!!! He's pointing out the PRICE OF PRIVILEGE!! Those guys played hurt because they DIDN'T have guaranteed contracts - none of this "Just get drafted and make your second contract" weakness!! Now they "load manage"?? WHAT LOAD?!?!? Cashing cheques is tiring now?!?! I DO NOT want "brawl for all" basketball. I want COMPETITIVE PRIDE - now they're just bitches that act sweet til they're married then stop fucking their husband cos "secured the bag"... which is why MANY MEN dislike the term "secure the bag"... but NBA players love it... cos they're effeminate. (See pre game fashion shows...)

[@MINK2393]

He comes from a different time lol

[@romey2fresh]

Stephen A 🤡

[@rhyscampbell8394]

Is he still a clown?

[@The_0G_Chad]

Kawhi Leonard is a tragedy. People beat up on him because he’s polite and he’s not on social media and he’s not an expert at becoming a favorite of woke politics. They feel like it’s safe to go after him. The real story, is about a kid who watched his father get murdered at 16, watched multiple siblings, go to jail, and only wanted to get his family out of the situation, who worked so hard, he went from scoring 16 points on the bench at 40% to being better than Kevin Durant, and still out, scoring him with a torn meniscus. People talk about Austin Reaves, and how hard he worked to improve his game. How he’s maniacal and does nothing but eat sleep and breathe basketball…. He was a undrafted, so that hunger is understandable. Kawhi Leonard the year after being called defensive player of the year and winning a championship and decided to not go on vacation and went from 40% efficiency to 52% going from 16 points to 22 points. The year after winning finals MVP, and being clearly the best to a player in the game, he decided he needed to work on his three point shooting. He went from a 32% three-point shooter to shoot in 46% coming off of a catastrophic knee repair. Unless you’ve played sports, you have no idea how hard you would have to work to improve like that. He wanted to be great in mid range, and he became the best, after he already got a huge contract. He wanted to help his team and saw the three point was the future and now he has a bettter’s percentage did Stephen Curry this season. We normally associate people who stay unhealthy as not being hard workers. They either are not rehabbing properly or simply want to get paid and don’t want to play basketball. Kawhi Leonard is the exact opposite and everyone of his teammates say that he literally works like two of them. When he would do workouts, he would bring 2 workout partners one for the early side, and one for the late. Russell Westbrook played with LeBron James and said Kawhi Leonard works harder than any player he’s ever seen, and Russ is known as a hard worker. Hell, the ex clippers who left like lemon pepper Lou and Patrick Beverley said Kawhi Leonard is on another level with his work ethic…. So rather seeing this, as a kid, who was victimized by San Antonio and made to play, even though his knee was killing him, the media decided to cover Popovich and say Kawaii was difficult, and there was nothing wrong with his knee…. Until later they were forced to retract that when they got the evidence that he had a torn knee ligament that led to the head of his muscle ripping off. I’m other word for team doctor said he was fine, and they gave him a surgeon who botched the job and shorten his career by years. This last few years has been a bad stretch, but it was the exact same with Kevin Durant, and no one was saying he should retire when he hadn’t played for two years for the nets. Imagine next year Kauai, looking the way he did in these playoffs, but finally having his knee, be ready to go. Then how stupid with all of you look? He’s the best player in the world after two botched, reconstructive knee surgeries… he’s the best player in the world when he only got to do for months of rehab because this last surgery rejected the donor tissue. In reality, he shouldn’t even have to come back this season. But he did it because he felt pressured. To us he’s been out for two years, to his me that had a botched donor ligament, it was only for healthy months before it seated. Because of that and because the team needed him because Paul George went down he was playing 46 minutes a night, and played a complete game. I’m not a partial, but a completely torn meniscus. KL is tougher than any us. Most of us couldn’t even stand, he was guarding Kevin Durant. So spare me a righteous sanctimony. Please go tell me how this poor billionaire is being taken advantage of by the millionaire who is playing on a torn meniscus… I like how everyone in simping for the billionaire . Steve Ballmer can lose $42 million a a week for a year and still be fine. The clippers new Kawhi Leonard load managed so stop saying it’s not OK. Steve Ballmer knew he was gonna play 60 games a year so it is OK. People are acting like the NBA has a hard cap and it doesn’t. Kawhi Leonard could’ve demanded he was paid twice as much as Paul George… in fact, when he first came to the Clippers, they told Kawhi to write his own check. He told them he wanted Paul George, but whoever played with him should get the same amount. People are bagging on KL now when he tore his meniscus and still played on it . The dude told everyone the surgery was botched and because everyone is so quick to judge him because he’s not in the media constantly like LeBron James., he doesn’t have the same coverage. If you take the Brooklyn Nets a year ago, Kevin Durant was just as bad . They brought him after he tore his Achilles and he was out for two solid seasons, then came back and got hurt again. Then they had James Harden get hurt at just the right time….. why was he not calling for Kevin Durant to retire? Kawaii is not the same at all as Zion … Kawhi Leonard has had multiple botched surgeries on the same knee. He’s never had a chance to fully heal even though it doesn’t appear that way to us. This honestly was the best thing that could’ve happened long-term and I’ll tell you why … he did not have a chance to rehab, his knee but because he felt the pressure he came back to soon. But rather than his ligaments, tearing the meniscus tour instead , so he’s gonna get this off-season, and I believe his knee could be fully healed by the time he comes back. Kawhi Leonard played against Kevin Durant and booker, and was clearly the best player in the court while his knee was hurting. When he is healthy, there’s no one else in the league who is as good as him in the playoffs. We should all feel terrible for him. He would’ve literally been a top-five player if Zazai never hit his knee. If he wasn’t a maniacal worker, he would’ve never gone from a 15 point OK shooter, to the best mid range, assassin in h recent history and then after realizing he was not good enough at three shooting 46% this last season….. you never hear about stories like that, unless they are undrafted players who are incredibly hungry like Austin Reaves. Kawhi Leonard did that after he was finals MVP…. So it has nothing to do with his work ethic or commitment to basketball. 99% of the time he situations are because people are not committed and don’t want to work. AD in Zion for instance is hurt nonstop because of weight issues. Kawaii was hurt because he was a young kid who trusted San Antonio and they’re searching that they recommended butchered his knee, now he has tons of scar tissue- and his immune system attacks any donor tissue.

[@dimmykarras9287]

Best comment. Thank you.

[@redheadforlife8526]

I teared up reading this. I always liked Kawhi, but never knew the full extent like this. Your comment should've been the most valued comment here. Thats so messed up what he went through with the spurs wtf? so they spinned this bs narrative and THEIR surgeon they advised messed him up more? WOW. like it makes me so angry for Kawhi, i dont get how anyone could have issues with him; he doesn't come across as a negative person or someone thats a jerk, can't say the same for Smith with the hot air. kawhi doesn't scream bs, like the rest of em, and the fact that the work he put in omg yeah it broke me more. Kawhi i hope your health is back to 500%

[@johnbach2380]

I don't see how a guy who's been involved with championship teams multiple years, and literally willed the Raptors to a title on his shoulders, is "the worst superstar" in history. Even if his health has been crap.

[@TheRealYKBlackHeart]

It's been less than crap. He chooses when he wants to play

[@prospect689]

he said why, did you listen

[@johnbach2380]

@@prospect689 yeah and his explanation is whack. Whats your point.

[@johnbach2380]

@@TheRealYKBlackHeart clearly the dude is having issues staying healthy. Its not like he doesnt want to play.

[@HMNiemann]

Stephen A has always hated Kawhi because he won’t talk to him. It’s his own personal beef that he tries to legitimize.

[@darickgarrison2298]

SAS got called out on his BS! Until he names a source then it's not true

[@BoldenFMA]

Whatever The Clippers decide to do w/ Kawhi is their business. We don't have a dime in that dollar and it doesn't effect our bottom line.

[@private-nobody6667]

Tell them!

[@jasondye9565]

The fans put a dime in that dollar🤷‍♂️

[@BoldenFMA]

@@jasondye9565So don't support them. No one is forcing them to spend money on tickets and or merch.

[@bigkev9631]

Man Ballmer has that new arena opening soon. He gotta have something to market and sell that upcoming new venue. He’s stuck in a rut with both Leonard and George.

[@BoldenFMA]

@BigKev96 He'll figure it out.

[@philosophical_life]

lads a dunk isn't a crazy movement. Fighting through a pick-and-roll or contesting a rebound is much more of a strain. When a person is injured they do different motions, however, in a slower motion, they're able to control their balance and intensity. Mental strain is real, in the moment he may be able to dunk with himself, but maybe not at fast and higher intensity level where the body and mind have to be connected strongly and healthy

[@AP-ok9rs]

The guy that made this video clearly had jj reddicks take go completely over his head… a dunk in pregame isn’t remotely close to playing a 100% full speed playoff game, dude has no clue what he’s talking about with this take

[@HarveysWorkshop]

Dunk on warmups is different from playing in a competitive game. Klay was dunking during later stage of rehab but that doesnt mean he was ready according to GSW.

[@jays8664]

If you we’re hurt you wouldn’t be doing a 360 dunk and between the legs dunk you would strain your hamstring even more.

[@westernbisness359]

@@jays8664 u mfs have never hooped before for a fact 💯

[@Yasuke4d]

Stephen A is always counting a black man’s money. 🙄 Also, why the hell is he calling organizations about releasing Players??? This dude is nuts.

[@journeydodge5812]

He is always talking about Black Men MONEY.

[@chipmorris5150]

JJ should’ve asked them if they felt the same about AD.

[@renejohnson]

O He Do! SAS is ruthless frfr

[@melissawilliams6324]

Always deflecting we are talking about Kwai not AD. Clippers fans always finger pointing instead of taking accountability 😳

[@anthonyo455]

@@melissawilliams6324 yep…all 3 of them haha

[@abdulphason4142]

Exactly what I was thinking

[@Mystra]

​@renejohnson No he don't! He's never said for AD to retire.

[@desuburinga]

I'm not sure which is crazier: owners continue to pay injury prone superstars max contracts or fans continue to support teams in the load management era.

[@BrutusCV_]

which is crazier? 1st option, owners paying injury prone players max deals. I don't see the big deal in fans supporting teams in "load management era". People/fans are gonna support their teams REGARDLESS of an era or anything else of that matter.

[@Sublime228]

"load management" is a sad excuse for lazy players. I get paid MUCH less than professional basketball players...I gotta work every day, all year around. They can play a game once or twice a week for half a year. Load management is the BIGGEST sorry excuse I've ever heard.

[@pageperpage]

I like that jj used the term empathy. People may confuse that w weakness or a lack of greatness but it's a rare commodity in the world now, in or outside of sports. Priority wise, damn man this world is quite distorted

[@cwillie1492]

They make so much money people don’t treat athletes as humans. My thing with K.L. one night he’s great next day he’s out for a week. Your being payed a lot of money you have to fight through it.

[@johnkrederjr8492]

Stephen A Smith: another dumb comment Mad dog: dumb comment Narrator of the video: also dumb comments But i respect all dumb comments someone had to make them Thank God we have JJ to keep Stephen A and Mad Dog in line.

[@Batman-em2he]

I think after the Isaiah Thomas thing no super star is gonna take the risk to play and aggravate an exciting injury and miss a big pay check. No player wants to be the next Isaiah Thomas

[@allnice2528]

KEVIN DURANT

[@journeydodge5812]

You cannot tell a person how they feel. Commenators ate talking about their Money not the Coaches.

[@kevinspencer3242]

He's always feeling bad retire

[@toddmiller243]

Boy!! Did JJ Reddick tear these idiots a new a$$hole or do my eyes deceive me!! Nope!! That was flucking AWESOME!!!

[@ec2240]

The thing is, playing through injury back in the day was the ONLY option bc the money was hard to come by and guys didn’t have a back up option to be successful. Why limit your ability to be physically and mentally healthy long term to come back for a series? Mad Dog makes a horrible argument. Just like saying guys who get concussed in football should come back out to play would be dumb AF

[@donttrip3582]

Look at those old players now, how they limp, bad backs, CTE if we’re talking about sports in general. The idea of playing through injury is nonsense and load management makes total sense, IN A SENSE.

[@ryanharrison955]

To have a sister sentence to life is beyond basketball .kawhi , I understand that life is bigger then basketball I respect you and I’m so sorry what your dealing with .

[@majora919]

his sister is a monster

[@tonysavarese-oq9to]

@@majora919 yeah I agree

[@RX7MAN27]

Dude he’s not the one going to prison for killing some one 😂😂😂😂 and how bout feel sry for the victim not a millionaire basketball player that can’t speak up for themselves so there’s no confusion 😂😂😂wtf is going on these days

[@jong5722]

This only proves how great LBJ is, I always say this in any sports.. Training in the gym is one thing but the greater part of training is how one takes care of his body outside of training and when he is not competition. Discipline is a virtue that only a few can practice.

[@etoradamaley4713]

You can do all you can to take care of your body but if you're predisposed to injury to certain body parts genetically, it's difficult to prevent injury. Sometimes athletes get lucky through their careers to avoid injury

[@champspec]

It helps that the NBA doesn’t test for PED’s. No question about it.

[@jong5722]

@@etoradamaley4713 I don't believe in being predisposed to injury. Kahwi is not doing the proper way of taking care of his body.

[@Trvllclinton]

@@champspec u on here saying anything , the nba definitely test for peds

[@Cooldownzone]

Stephen A, Mad Dog and this presenter forgot that Kawhi played through injuries to win the championship with the raptors. Commitment and health should be separate. Kudos to JJ.

[@Jamalwileyr]

Agreed!!!!

[@monkeybiz77]

I feel like the clippers are being robbed here but that's just my perspective. I have never played at a college level or nba level and sustained the injuries he has also. I just think teams and players when signing contracts need to look at the big picture more. Don't pay the players as much and see how they perform with a short contract. If they perform better than expected then pay the player more when it ends or renegotiate. Very simple

[@dwjoseph59]

It's really bad timing with the brand new intuit dome opening in less than 2 years. I can't see steve ballmer blowing the thing up until after the new arena opens. You still gotta sell tickets to those games.

[@vw4069]

By then they could choose to go some where else, and it will be the owners loss for holding back.

[@monkeybiz77]

@@dwjoseph59 The New Intuit Dome is going to be first class and beautiful. From what I can see is they don't have really any options at this point so they have to make Kawhi and George work. My dad has clipper season tickets and when he tries to resell them he get back what he pays so I don't know how ticket sales will be there.

[@ernestlewis8847]

When you said you ain’t never played on the college level or NBA level, it doesn’t matter what you think😂

[@DreiK96]

​@@dwjoseph59 how'd you sell with load managing guys?

[@Josh_Exitcamper]

“load-management” should be eradicated.

[@dbzfan4evermj233]

Facts bro

[@Bynxandethan]

"Load management" is when I haven't fooked my girl in a minute so I get one out before we hang out so I can be ready for the game 🤣

[@dwjoseph59]

Yep

[@maxcusumano5188]

Can’t be. How you gunna legitimize every injury?

[@Hidalgoes]

There should be less games , 85 games a season is crazy and diminishes the quality of basketball

[@handocommando4090]

Stephen is 1000% correct this time, this man has played like 20 games in 5 years. He’s a great player, but part of being great is stayin healthy.

[@StreetzCultureTV]

Stephen 'Hate' Smith......

[@jays8664]

People forget Brandon Roy played with no knee cartilage.

[@johnjacob3276]

And look at how well that worked out for him, can you be mad at players that are “injury prone” attempting to prolong their career?

[@jays8664]

@@johnjacob3276 he had no choice he was born like that unlike Zion so what your point. Roy gave it his hall till he couldn’t no more.

[@johnjacob3276]

@@jays8664 what does that have to do with Kawhi Leonard ? The point is evolution! If you are smart you study history and you do what you can to avoid the same outcome

[@Blue57RagTop]

Honestly this is the most objective I’ve heard someone in a while. Subbing!

[@maltohi]

Kawhi is still my number 1 guy. I'm just glad he got two chips before injuries could railroad his career and he should still be playing. 🙏

[@jamescarter6329]

Play players per games played, if kawhi is due to make $42 million per year then break that down per 82 games, its like $512,000 or so he would get paid per game, if he only plays 50 games then then so be it 🤷

[@CrazZNivek]

I think you hit it right on the dot my friend, great points.

[@0TRa0]

Stephen A. Thinks he can talk to owners and coaches and learn everything there is to know about the game, he downplays the major disadvantage that he has: he never played in the NBA! There’s things he’ll never understand and he doesn’t want to

[@0TRa0]

Want to admit it

[@Wizard-by2jk]

Please get rid of Stephen Smith he lies all the time

[@craigandnem4597]

“I remember when they didn’t have rims and backboards and they had to play using peach baskets.” ~Mad Dog Russo

[@djnes2k7]

This is why I hate all these ex players being on these networks. Nothing jj said responds to what stephens A said. He purposely dodges statements. Stephen points of mentioning who he speaks to was only push back to him not being a player. The point wasn’t to name grievances that the team had

[@matthewroreilly]

He also just grabs his phone like a child when mad dog starts talking, dog listened the whole time to him

[@mam8ajr245]

Never forgot max said Kawhi was better than Kobe 😂😂😂😂

[@dimmykarras9287]

A lot better 3 level shooter and a better defender with 2 DPOY titles under his belt. Kobe is more successful (he played with Shaq and coached by Jackson) and more of a leader, a go-getter. But in terms of skills and efficiency he's got nothing on Leonard.

[@doctorwilly]

The best outcome is for Kawhi to restructure his contract andcut his own salary (like tim duncan). but the team knows they are taking a risk when they signed Kawhi. Tough luck that one of the worst scenario is playing out now

[@fernan2s136]

Great video!

[@journeydodge5812]

I feel the Doctors released him too Early from the First injury.

[@RedLeo-pf9yo]

That old white guy said he would take Kawhi Leonard over Kevin Durant, he must be out of his damn mind. He would be the only person dumb enough to take Kawai over Durant. Why would you take somebody That’s always in the hospital, over one of the greatest scores in NBA history.

[@Fla_Law_Dog]

Dunking is simply running fowards and jumping straight up and down. It requires zero lateral movement, zero stopping on a dime and change of direction, zero stop and go. Those are the type of movements that test the stability of a hip, knee, or ankle joint. That's the test any professional sports trainer will give a BB player before clearing them to play.

[@TimWong49152]

Steve Ballmer has paid Kawhi $147 million over the past 4 years for averaging 40 games played per season. No championships. No Finals appearances. Don't forget Ballmer gave Kawhi everything he wanted to sign with the Clippers. There was no hometown discount. Injury or not, we are all held accountable. Kawhi has never been held accountable.

[@kevinbirmingham8629]

JJ Redick is all the way wrong here, but exTREMELY arrogant as usual. Stephen A Smith is 100% correct.

[@sloebone7399]

Stephen A’s argument is based on the idea that basketball players don’t want to play basketball, they would rather sit on the sidelines, fake injury and collect a check. The games are what they live for. If they can’t go, there’s a reason for it.

[@PandasticVoyage]

JJ Redick is kind of an easily triggered personality and it's awkward to watch these soap box moments he has. There's a way to say what he wants to say without being so awkwardly abrasive. It's hard to watch. It goes from debate to argument.

[@suckerpunchable]

What the hell.. he’s doing it because he’s checking these two fkn clowns with their insane takes. FSN doesn’t have this problem because they do normal debates. Literally what is this take, that he should retire, why tf does that even matter to anything related to sports news rn. You criticizing reddick after Stephen A saying a player should retire is mind bending. I’m glad he calls out espn in their bullshit. They get rid of Max K and bring in Mad Dog dumbass they deserve the lowest rating in morning sports news

[@pagrichard]

He is the only one who can confront Stephen A because he doesn't give a F and most of the time he is right which translates in good TV and keep Stephen A relevant which I hate to watch.

[@ramonemalone8726]

They get extremely butt hurt when someone brings up the fact that they might not know as much as players..............who actually participated

[@ramonemalone8726]

You can't predict an injury...........News flash.......just because you play sports doesn't mean that it goes above all else.......I.E. health and family

[@albertpichardo1740]

Knee injury is the most terrible thing, SAS doesn’t understand that. How will you play with knee injury. I have 2 years with torn meniscus and even when I stomp it hurts imagine If I were jumping or playing basketball

[@jong5722]

Knowing is entirely different from doing... Stephen A should shut his mouth. I played streetball from my teenage years and I can relate with J Redick. The last time I played I was surprised how talented kids are of today.. Back in the days it's more of very physical in the shaded lane and half court offense with perimeter shooting as main menu. Today, kids has little of everything. They can run and run, everybody has dribbling skills to a certain level, almost everybody can shoot from perimeter and basketball IQ threshold has increased.

[@Bonescratcher]

I don’t feel the slightest bit bad for Steve Ballmer. He is worth over $50 Billion (yes with a “B”) and he made all that money by stalling Microsoft’s growth for a whole decade! Microsoft still paid him everything they owed him despite his garbage performance. So it’s ok he can pay Kawhi without even feeling the slightest pinch

[@kennypulsifer2037]

There is absolutely not 1 player worth 40+ million dollars a year..Not 1..

[@handsomeblackman255]

A torn hamstring (depending on how severe) doesn't start hurting until the muscle warms up. You'll think your fine for the first 5 to 10 minutes of a game and then BAM! The pain returns. Because you have been walking on it for a week with no problem you will think its gotten better. Its the running and jumping that brings out the pain in a torn hammy.

[@malicktchakpedeou9989]

What was the name of Samuel Jackson's character in "Jango" again ?... Was that Stephen A Smith ?... I don't remember.

[@journeydodge5812]

Mental Hurdle because the Crowd was not there. So you are talking about what you think.

[@starvingartistpodcast48]

JJ Reddick was such a Dbag for saying what he did. He had to mention that you didn't play in the league! That's not even relevant in this matter

[@Takeoffyourpantsjakt]

Saying he should agree to take less money if he misses games is way out of touch. If you have to miss 3 months of work because of a family emergency, should you take a paycut or take less? No way! You shouldn’t be penalized for something out of your control. You can’t expect a man to take less because he’s injury prone. If the owner pays it that’s on the owner.

[@dwaynedickerson4408]

Next year when you gotta play 60 games to get your money i bet you he will be on that court lol

[@deandredavis5264]

It wouldn't go as you think

[@tonysavarese-oq9to]

The money matters when one considers they cannot re sign Westbrook, the one dude who DID play vs phx, for more than 3 or 4 mil. Imagine the guy playing 52 games is getting paid 42 million and you're making 10 percent of what he does. Nah man, that matters, grown men see it and wonder... people in an office setting wonder why someone makes more who works less etc. This matters too

[@private-nobody6667]

You can't blame that on Kawhi; blame that on Clipper's brass; they are the ones that sought his services knowing his injury history; what is the maxim in commerce: "Buyer beware"! That's the Clipper's brass fault, not Kawhi. People need to stop cappin for fictional corporations that do not care for a man's life ...

[@tonysavarese-oq9to]

@@private-nobody6667 no doubt, buyer beware. But, to reply to your old saying with another: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. So, that said, cut ties at all costs. I'm not blaming him, just stating he can no longer do his job and the clippers have to know this.

[@private-nobody6667]

@@tonysavarese-oq9to sure, the Clippers can do that, but they still have to honor the contract and pay him in full ...

[@darrengordon-hill]

"We're just jealous" according to JJ

[@thefighter5182]

Yeah I completely agree with JJ Redick. Because it was like KD got hurt in the 2019 NBA Finals against Kawhi's Raptors and played again in Game 5 and got hurt again then he couldn't play anymore. Because when it comes to injuries you don't have to play when you're already injured but when you expect them to play anyways then they're at a higher risk of getting injured again. Because if that happened to MJ then he wouldn't have to play 82 games when you're injured but he did it the hard way because he was never injured and that's why.

[@doug6723]

The whole argument "you haven't played high level basketball" is a bs argument. Plenty of people have had injuries during Rec ball games and still played. They aren't getting paid $10 to play let alone tens of millions. What about coaches who never played at a high level. A lot of successful coaches never were elite. Does that mean they aren't qualified to coach? Doctors will give their input, they never played at a high level either. Dumb argument.

[@broderickhennington5336]

I don't respect J. J. Reddick AT ALL!!! I have seen guys who have their lives on the line and miss limbs but fought to stay in the military. These guys play a game and can't mentally can't go. GET THE EFF OUT OF HERE

[@mauricewilliams3478]

Kawhi is my favorite 2nd KD but his knees is shattered can't take the pounding through a season. He needs to retire

[@journeydodge5812]

Now look where these broken down Men are now.

[@MaldingMan13]

i get this video is a year old, but to argue that league ratings are down but not understand that ratings are irrelevant in 2023 is wild lol. The NBA made a record 10 billion and repeated the following year for revenue. come on bro no one cares about TV RATINGS in 2023, let alone now 2024 🤣😂😂😂the internet has entered the chat

[@memaselv767]

Stephen 5 head is wrong no matter how you put it. he is a karen. His 2 cents don't matter JJ is absolutely right they don't have a clue. All of what they are saying goes to clips exec's. but is still an owners decision not fans.

[@ricardoramirez-tt6rd]

I dislike Stephen A. so much.

[@Preppster83]

This play through pain stuff is outdated because I remember doing a golf clinic for a bunch of HoFs and they were moving around stiff. If they want to play through that's one thing but forcing/shaming should not be the thing.

[@MrRob1317]

Contracts gotta have an availability clause unless agreed upon

[@private-nobody6667]

And if it does not, nobody should be complaining ...

[@dbzfan4evermj233]

The nba needs to take away there money if they want to load manage David stern would never let shit like this happen for my birthday last year I went to bulls game expecting to see Damian Lillard play and he didn’t even show up not even on the bench at bare minimum one of my friends went to bucks game and Giannis sat the first game vs dc but next night against the same team he drops 50 nba is pissing off its own fans and best player not participating in dunk contest and 3pt contest or barely trying in all star game I wish I got grow up in 80s and 90s nba when players actually cared about and don’t get me started on kyrie

[@younggarrett93]

that's fine and good and I agree, but you do realize that he's not load managing right now though right??

[@fezikalyouth4865]

Retiring is a bit extreme. U think anybody want retire with injuries.If it ain about the money why should he play

[@dwjoseph59]

It's really bad timing with the brand new intuit dome opening in less than 2 years. I can't see steve ballmer blowing the thing up until after the new arena opens. You still gotta sell tickets to those games in inglewood, california & people want to see kawhi leonard, paul george & maybe russell westbrook too all play together. #IJS

[@iambudhaboy8226]

Why was mad dog upset that Molly was calling him mad dog but let’s Stephen a call him that all the time

[@folag]

These people are barking up the wrong tree. The final decision on a star player's pay is made by the owner. If they feel aggrieved that Kahwi Leonard is paid too much, they ought to attack Steve Ballmer, not Kawhi.

[@Plague_Doc22]

Like you said, Zion doing fancy dunks and shit and then not playing even if it's not at all the same thing...is atleast the worst thing you can do for public image. Looks like he's healthy enough to do crazy athletic stuff but doesnt want to give it a go. CJ Mcollum even called him out in his post seasons media.

[@leejohn7423]

Dunking in warm ups and playing a whole nba playoff game are two different things 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@the_dark_knight5140]

Kawhi has never "load managed" just to load manage. People seem to forget that before the ACL injury, kawhi had been dealing with knee tendinopathy. The only help for that is rest. That's why, per doctors orders, Kawhi didn't play in a number of games. You either rest your knees or they get worse the more you play. 2. Coming off an ACL injury/surgery, it didn't make sense to have Kawhi play in every game. Yes, kawhi was frustrated about his minutes restriction and you could see it in his face when he had to come out of games, but after a major surgery, it would make sense to bring him back slowly. So kawhi doesn't load manage. Testing his knees helped with the pain and the Clippers medical staff kept him out of games

[@RedLeo-pf9yo]

Dude, basketball is fun, whether you get paid or not, if you can play, you’re gonna play. Nobody says they don’t want to play, because they think basketball is negative. It’s some kind of way. When you’re basketball player, you always want to play, even if it’s for free.

[@RX7MAN27]

Love the way dog responds because it is important that kind of money and u think steve balmers happy rn 😂😂😂😂

[@cndungu]

JJ will be removed like Max Kellerman was.

[@russca67]

Who takes S.A. serious? He is a jester and stay saying wild ish talking to somebody about basketball is not the same as playing my boy

[@Metromania2022]

Players are weak as hell nowadays. Plain and simple. JJ is just out there to protect player interest.

[@UKWizdakey2lyfe]

Bro said Jerry west averaged 43 points per game in the finals with a torn hamstring ima have to google that cause that sounds like straight bs 😂

[@MrMoraltv]

No it's real

[@armatageshanks06]

Pretty sure Leonard played through injuries during the playoff run with Toronto.

[@jeffknight9292]

I would trade them both but not for what Stephen a said.

[@KevinWieschhues]

Well, you make a good point by saying that Leonard's cap hit, making 43 million, matters as the team is handicapped. When you pay one player 43 million - in a salary cap league - you expect him to have an impact that represents that. HOWEVER ... nobody forced the Clippers to pay Kawhi that money. They were desperate, hence they gave him Paul George, hence they paid him. This also matters going forward. No team is forced to pay Kawhi max. dollars. If he wants the max and nobody is willing to give it to him, then he will have to settle or retire (if he does not want to play for less). But if any team pays him, well... the market dictates the price. Saying that he should demand less from the start, because he knows he is injury-prone, sounds good in theory. However, in reality, why would he? In theory, you could go to your employer and ask for a million. You can even do that knowing how replacable you are and that you are always calling in sick. The issue is whether someone gives you what you ask for. Kawhi will 100% go into his next negotiations, asking for the most money he can get. And he should. It is on the teams to stick to the experience the Clippers just made and make it clear, that they will not pay him max dollars.

[@artworks365]

I use to watch sports shows all the time. Now I watch in moderation,I can't watch these guys talk as if they can't be put in their place and can't take an L. How often do they actually agree? Agreeing won't help ratings.

[@d1gord]

Why should he take less money? If the owner pays me 40 million to sit then I'm taking it. Its called negotiating

[@RobertFisher3-mi7cn]

No matter what the situation is with Kawaii , but it's not up to Stephen A to say what the Clippers should do. Ordinarily SAS is my dude, but he's dead wrong here. It ain't up to him, but saying he's the worse superstar is way out of line. And he's not in the league to play ball, forget all the other stuff. Like Howard Cosell, he never played the game

[@rasgardenandpoultrypigeons2048]

I’m a Kawhi fan, been a fan since Spurs. However I am so disappointed with what’s happened with his health. As an owner I would trade him. Stephen A is right, Kawhi needs to be traded. I question whether he even wants to play anymore.

[@NicoNico-79797]

Stephen A Smith is the most USELESS predictor in the history of all Sports

[@whobbida]

Steven A Smith think he’s the gatekeeper for the NBA

[@mr.dbldblu6144]

Stehen A hates Kyrie and his dad because they tried to get him fired. But all he does is get on national tv and literally try to convince teams to fire players! This guy is a 2x world champion with no super teams! Karma is gonna be really bad for Stephen A. His day is coming!!

[@TrinkBruder]

These basketball organizations need to wise up and stop giving exorbidant contracts to people who might not be able to play

[@andrewwilson8444]

Players SHOULD play with broken bones making millions too put a ball in a HOOP!!!!!!! i can play basketball at a college basketball level. Pay me 500k a year and im playing with covid, a broken finger, concussion and headache from hell.

[@redkryptonite6]

These guys no next to nothing about sport. JJ is exposing that and you know they hate it. This is why Stephen A is focusing on his podcast, so he can control everything.

[@private-nobody6667]

BlacktopBuckets, nobody put a gun to Clipper's representative's head to sign Kawhi, who knew his history beforehand; hence, it is not equitable to say that Kawhi should take less money; that is a horrible take ... esp. since injury is part of the game that harms the player, not the organization, which is a legal fiction and not real ...

[@blacktopbuckets]

I'm not saying he should take less money because of his injuries. I'm saying he should take less money for resting games that he is healthy. He won't play back to backs even when his knee is feeling good enough to play.

[@private-nobody6667]

@@blacktopbuckets But that was part of the contract that Clipper's brass agreed to, so what is your point? The contract is the law of the case, not opinions.

[@private-nobody6667]

​@@blacktopbuckets who determines whether the knee is healthy or not??? Not a doctor; only the owner of the knee ...

[@champspec]

The league’s ratings are going down because of the obvious garbage biased officiating that the NBA has been orchestrating for years. It worked to help ratings initially. But now that its becoming so obvious, people are losing interest. It has nothing to do with the players. Because players’ individual performances as a whole have been getting better. And that’s what people come to see.

[@rogerwalker2892]

He should take less money...seriously??? I'm not making any excuses for Kawhi but like JJ said he is battling with injuries. Now if he risk playing and does permanent damage to his knee that leaves him crippled or incapacitated in some way, all of the same ones criticising him for not playing will be the very first ones to switch up and sing a different tune. As the old saying goes, Don't judge somebody until you've walked a mile in their shoes. It sucks if you're Steve Ballmer that isn't lost on me, but like it or not injuries are a part of the game just ask Ralph Sampson, Bill Walton, Brandon Roy, Sam Bowie, Greg Oden, Grant Hill, Yao Ming, Penny Hardaway, Tom Gugliotta, Antonio McDyess etc these are just a small few who readily come to mind as having had their promising careers derailed because of injury. So as usual SAS is just spewing nonsense for ratings sake....but that's just me