STOP WITH THAT 🗣️ - Stephen A. doesn't think Butler is harder to guard than LeBron & KD | First Take

STOP WITH THAT 🗣️ - Stephen A. doesn't think Butler is harder to guard than LeBron & KD | First Take
Stephen A. Smith, Jay Williams and Monica McNutt debate whether Jimmy Butler is harder to guard than LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
0:00 Stephen A. on whether Jimmy Butler is harder to guard than LeBron and Kevin Durant
3:40 Stephen A. brings out his body guard
6:50 Who had the more impressive Finals run: 2023 Heat or 1999 Knicks?
#firsttake #nba
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[@coolin_dave]

Stephen A the type to lend his boy a tie and then air it out on national television 😂

[@nikjd11]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@RealAlias1]

😭😭

[@LazyGrilling52]

LMFAOOOOOOO

[@IsaacCrayton]

💀💀💀

[@user-kj6be8sf3v]

Akstually he didn't lend it to him, j williams grabbed it out of his locker, ohkey!

[@joejoedouard]

This is the best Stephen A. segment in a minute 😂😂😂😂

[@tuff7771]

Ian watch it yet but from what I seen j will needs to be fire😂

[@wook1990]

When he says the word "blasphemous", you know it's real. 💀

[@Javier-bs9nr]

He had to shut Molly up 😂 why tf you interrupting me so much she got real quiet 💀

[@stopcampin4097]

Mans had his bodyguard pop up 💀😭😭😭😭

[@ezracadlett2]

Facts

[@LazyGrilling52]

Stephen A won the minute he reminded us Jay Will that thought Austin Reaves was more valuable than Lebron James 💀💀💀

[@justinthealpha6710]

That was proven false 😂

[@fredb6515]

J will is a idiot

[@wehejedudi-yk9ld]

Are you retarded?

[@mccreav]

The fact this was a segment is absolutely sickening

[@bryana.escaleralopez]

The current state of the league bruh.

[@patrickzamier9960]

Crying but you’re still entertained, see you tomorrow for next first take

[@Resist_Oppression]

You're right. This trash segment should make espn dock their pay

[@varunaX]

get ready for a 5 day a week lebron segment summer bro

[@lamontephillips5092]

Sickening feels a tad dramatic

[@haydennyagah706]

As a Heat fan, I love Jimmy. Jimmy's a hooper, a killer, whatever you want to call him. But calling him a harder guard than Lebron and KD is crazy

[@Shiny101]

I'm NOT a Heat fan and in these playoffs he's definitely been the hardest man to guard outside of maybe Jokic.

[@azel155]

well you don't have to be a heat fan to say obvious things not even a top-10 player

[@xavierb9061]

Its truth..for aaron gordon..harder..

[@haydennyagah706]

@@Shiny101 Yeah it's easy to say that because Jimmy is still playing while KD and Lebron are home. But SAS said the question was just in general, not pertaining to the playoffs. And in general, I don't think KD and Lebron are easier to guard than Butler. Maybe Lebron because he's older but definitely not KD

[@jayadonis5328]

As a Nuggets fan and Denver native I completely agree with you💯☠️ NUGGETS IN 4‼️

[@ShawnDaShoota]

Stephen A in rare form🤣🤣🤣

[@impala100]

The body guard sliding in the shot was gold 😂😂

[@DwyaneMVPWade]

Don’t really agree with Stephen A but he’s 100% right here. This not even a question

[@TheSwagIsBack]

@@jtcooper1033 correct.

[@daleisc]

@@jtcooper1033 if it was prime lebron i swear denver loose in 4

[@TLR1988]

​@@jtcooper1033 lol I almost took you serious but seeing that you have some girl's boyfriend as your avatar says it all.

[@PrinceCortezJones]

​@@jtcooper1033 bro lebron is still a much better shooter from 3 than Jimmy excluding the recent struggle. Lebron is a better finisher, passer, etc. Jimmy has played 10 good playoff games and y'all glazing him way too much.

[@killemall923]

​@jtcooper1033 Not to compare, but they said the same thing about Shaq. He was still unstoppable just like LeBron when he decides to take it to the hole

[@mikemoore4252]

Why Molly mention her and SAS goin to the DR and Columbia unwarranted 👀🤣

[@beemcginnis5074]

He's gonna be clapping cheeks guaranteed

[@gritsgravy3886]

Selective listening, she's talking about the bodyguard.....

[@xolisawulana3112]

The last two post seasons… KD has been doubled in almost every possession. That alone should tell you how much teams indeed fear that dude on the offensive side.

[@haywood0457]

And he’s done NOTHING. Yes, I agree he’s a harder guard than Jimmy, that’s not even a discussion. But the fact he cannot handle a 2x team is exactly why I’ve never thought he’s ever been the best in the league and it’s up for debate who was better in GS: him or Curry. In GS, the movement of Curry, Thompson, and DG kept bodies off him. Additionally, Curry was the main source of defensive attention, which the best player normally draws. In BK and PHX he was the clear 1 and could never pass the test. He lacks the strength to push through defensive coverages and you can push him from getting below the elbow where his middy is probably the best all/time.

[@haywood0457]

Jimmy Butler is not harder to guard than KD or LBJ. And I'm the furthest from a KD fan possible. What I will say is that he does have more strength than KD, which makes it more difficult to cut him from some of his spots. But no way he's harder to guard than KD or LBJ.

[@Chromixxxx]

KD is washed

[@Itzyaboijay247]

@@Chromixxxx he isn't washed yet, he still got a jc penneys bag😅

[@justintheman6667]

​@@Chromixxxx Nah KD is good it's 2023 players play longer nowadays and KD is still playing at a extremely high level.

[@Chromixxxx]

​@@justintheman6667 bro still living in 2016 KD hasnt made a conference finals in the last 4 years hes washed 🥱

[@punkstappuhhh]

Dennis Rodman said himself that these two guys are easy to pick apart their game

[@inlivingcolor...abroad6099]

This is a DEBATE?????? It’s sickening how they take Aaron Gordon’s comments of how Butler is difficult to guard for DIFFERENT reasons into a debate if he is HARDER to guard. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@SirGenesis206]

Right. I was reading that quote like… “AG didn’t say that.” Lol.

[@o4tw382]

They seen lebron and ran with it

[@SeventyVelle]

Skip and Shannon blew something out of pocket when Malone compared Jokic to Duncan in them being similar because they are unselfish superstars. Skip and Shannon started debating jokic v duncan skillset and playstyle. But none of these talking head have a job if they weren't misguiding/misqouting narratives.

[@joelgriffith1654]

Exactly English language.

[@justintheman6667]

It's great entertainment tho lol 🔥

[@megaton6342]

Jimmy been in the league for 10 years now all of a sudden he’s hard to defend? Boy we really live in a “what have you done lately” society

[@noyce.]

Say it louder for the clowns at the back.

[@akosuaserwaaantwi]

Stephen A knows everybody for years😂

[@therealneal3034]

I mean, he's been in the NBA media since at least AI showed up. So that's what, almost 30 years of being around players, coaches, and execs?

[@JamesJiansen]

Jimmy is a great player and a superstar. But what makes him great is intangibles, not pure skills or athleticism.

[@bushhhyy]

7:15 made me bust out laughing lmaoo

[@Rvainlefty]

Homie rang my ears with that *"WHaaAAT"* 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@otb9453]

I don’t know the last time KD wasn’t doubled on a possession.

[@DevDemoe]

Facts

[@latenite3931]

You know Stephen A was watching all the Martin episodes in the 90s 😂😂

[@Best_Card_Collection]

The WHOLE thing Stephen Smith..... did you hear that 😂🙃🤣😂

[@ClarenceWardIII]

The Emmitt Smith joke was on point.

[@unspokenrespect]

😂😂😂😂 out of nowhere

[@mvpcone27]

I love Jimmy, and I love what he has done since he put on a Miami HEAT jersey. HE'S NOT HARDER TO GUARD THAN LEBRON OR KD.

[@devmamba2492]

kd is harder coz that dude is a killer. BRON? LOL nobody gets scared when its tight and bron has the ball. opposing fans want the ball in lebrons hands in the clutch. he aint a killer.

[@wehejedudi-yk9ld]

LeBron James 27.75ppg vs Nuggets Kevin Durant 29.5ppg vs Nuggets Jimmy Butler 13points in Game1 You're right man

[@Bars11_]

Everyone was waiting for the word 'Blasphemous'😂😂

[@Artbyartcreates]

JWill crazy for that one…. McNut crazy too!!!

[@ProphetP11]

🤣🤣 4:05

[@tevincoley7970]

She always been crazy don't know why she even on the show clueless as always

[@desean3402]

Jay Will doesn’t even believe what he’s saying.

[@marioquezada109]

So in other words, Butler is harder to guard than LBJ & KD if they’re both injured… 😅😅😅

[@jlove4030]

This is hilarious! Love their energy.

[@lilmenace5603]

Great show this morning!

[@Ionut2682]

Stephen A is the most entertaining person on TV.

[@bobbyshaw2419]

If Miami win it all, they're gonna put Jimmy on the Mt. Rushmore 😂

[@jvtopflight796]

Bro I just watched KD get double every game almost every where on the court 😭😭 Bron was getting doubled past FT line.. Man yal better stop

[@lixondarvish7334]

😂😂😂😂exactly!!! And tripled team as well.

[@montgomeryscottys8213]

Coaches don’t even want Kd and bron to get in rhythm 🤣

[@DevDemoe]

@@montgomeryscottys8213 exactly

[@Jp2timezz]

@@montgomeryscottys8213facts😂

[@nimcogood712]

I loved this

[@yungggbloodd3281]

Stephen A high key was flexin on Em the whole video 😂😂😂

[@MrSmurf459]

“I let him wear my ties”😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hectorcorniel3422]

Thats the most ridiculous thing I ever heard, Jimmy hardest to guard that KD. 😂😂😂😂

[@delonniejohnson1165]

He technically is.. You can get physical with KD and he becomes a shell. You can't do that to butler plus butler can actually run the offense unlike KD.

[@thefitgurutv]

Jay Williams is right. Butler is the harder player to guard of the 3

[@SethStyles]

​@@delonniejohnson1165 watch Basketball then talk

[@punkstappuhhh]

KD has one move in his bag and it’s his craxkhead crossover. He can’t post up either. The new NBA got y’all thinking these guys are unguardable. Don’t even get me started on LeBron “no handles” James

[@SethStyles]

@PUNK STAPPUHHH again please know and Watch Basketball first before talking

[@TV93412nc]

I'm convinced all first take topics are used to click bait for the internet nowadays. It's smart tbh

[@samwilson4597]

Basically add lebron to the title

[@lordbeerus6182]

​@@samwilson4597and durant

[@user-pm2mp3xv9v]

wonderful

[@deafpoetz]

I swear nobody believes Jimmy Butler is harder to check than either of those brothers, i appreciate their effort though.💯😂😂😂

[@Cmwright..BCW91]

SAS out here breaking the 4th wall on First Take lol

[@d-mass]

this conversation is direspectful to basketball !

[@Mr3sixty360]

Love it

[@dojo1371]

Saying Jimmy is harder to guard is Ludacris. JWill is always trying so hard to give a hot take. And Monica McNut...... well, she's is nuts.

[@P40L0H3NS0N]

More like Monica McNuts

[@matthewlonnon5662]

This post season how many times did Lebron go for 50 against the best defense in the League? How many points did Bron put up in the fourth quarters of a tight games? Less than you would want. He let AR15 and Rui carry him in the 4th. Jimmy's doing the opposite. That's why he's still alive with players less talented than Lebron had.

[@P40L0H3NS0N]

@@matthewlonnon5662 so are we basing of this postseason not the totality of their careers as stated in the statement of Aaron Gordon? The fact that you're requiring him to get 50 on his 20th season at age 38 is so funny. He does get hold into very high standards. How can you ask more of him when he gave the Nuggets 40 of an elimination game and not blaming others that didn't step up? How can scoring be viewed as the main factor of winning when there are other multiple facets of the game besides scoring?

[@demetriousjordan8715]

Ludicrous lol 😂

[@user-dh7dj3yw1b]

These media members really know how to get clicks because I never clicked on a video so quick. What is Jay smoking this morning?🤣

[@flyingspacerock8968]

This was your best show yet

[@tommasopenazzi170]

fire that man

[@SSJRome]

Just because the Celtics decided to let Jimmy butler get to his spot every time with no double doesn’t mean he’s harder to guard than KD and lebron

[@montgomeryscottys8213]

Look how that same Celtics team swarmed Kd on every possession, but to be fair to Jimmy he passes faster than Kd

[@nvisible123]

My God Molly, BE QUIET!!

[@jeremyrhansen6637]

4:44 they should rename the show to this!!!! 😂

[@jvenning3]

lmfao

[@garmented]

bro Jimmy is my fav player. But who has ever said that he’s harder to guard than lebron and kd. Kd is lethal from literally anywhere on the court. Lebron is similar to Jimmy on how they can just go through people in the paint n get fouled but he’s stronger than Jimmy cmon bro

[@simeonjones5049]

“This season”

[@YCKEDITS]

Celtics fan here Jimmy is an absolutely incredible player but he is not harder to guard than Lebron and KD that’s crazy

[@youngxozay]

Jay Williams and Stephen A are hilarious duo 🤣🤣🤣

[@obeychip5130]

Yooo the when I had a Afro and you was trying to grow one killed me stephen a slick 😂😂😂

[@MicahThaAnswer]

Stephen A really channeling that New York old angry dog energy 😂😭😭😭😭😭😭💀💀💀 lmaooo

[@EricBilodeau-ln9vy]

This year the seeds aren't really representative of how good the teams were. Almost all the stars missed at least 10 games even up to 30 games. It was a season with many teams having very skewed records

[@anthonytreglia2243]

Anyone who says Jimmy is harder to gaurd needs to have their basketball cards revoked this is absolutely delusional. I guarantee none of them would ever say that if they had to pick who they wanna play in a 1v1. Absolutely insane 😂

[@emoneyizhereson]

Man this show is so live during the nba finals and super bowl!!!!!

[@mosesruperto7128]

I LOVE IT!!!!!! BASKETBALL IS BACK!!! Meaningful discussions about TEAM SUCCESS!!!! This finals is ALL ABOUT WINNING! No drama, no kings, no queens, no BS! Just heart!

[@ericdiaz153]

Hold up I just caught that Molly said Stephen A going to DR & Colombia with her this summer 👀

[@pauljoseph3081]

I'm all for the Heat but you don't need to double Jimmy unlike LeBron and KD.

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

Steph curry is harder to guard than butler, lebron or KD

[@pauljoseph3081]

@@Frankieefootballmundial Idiot, Curry needs a screener while LeBron will just bully his way and KD is a tower who can shoot like your Curry without the need of a screener

[@ng7214]

@@Frankieefootballmundial no he isnt especially prime lebron stfu

[@SethStyles]

​@@Frankieefootballmundial no he's not

[@karamaswift5829]

"This is back when I had an afro and you was still tryna get one" lmaooooo

[@correlthornton3925]

Ya..ya .yalll need to stop lmaoo 😂😂😂 Stephen A never fails to amuse me haha 😆

[@marcelsansalone3829]

As a heat fan this is absolutely hilarious, i agree with steven a but this segment is one of those "hot takes" that make for great entertainment 😭

[@juju-vl7oj]

The fact that Jimmy and prime LeBron are put in conversations together shows how expectations change perceptions. Jimmy and this Heat team isn't expected to do win anything or to play amazing so if they lose its just expected and they get a pat on the back for doing as much as they could but if they win its incredible. If a LeBron team won and he played incredible it was just expected and losses and bad games were the biggest shame ever. And yes I understand Jimmy is a great leader and plays unselfishly so that helps teammates but this isn't close to a 1 man show carrying job by Jimmy. His teammates regardless of their past status are playing incredible and Jimmy isn't putting the ball in the basket for them and he's not defending all 5 opponents on the court at once. Stephen A rightfully shot this down but he and Skip Bayless over the last 20 years are the main reason that the NBA moved in this direction of silly narratives instead of the reality of watching basketball as a team game with many factors involved in winning and losing besides just the superstar players.

[@jmille0628]

Dang molly going to DR and Colombia 😅 me too

[@danielashiru5363]

“Did you really take that from his office “ “Oh yea “ 😂😂

[@Dee-pt8sl]

Gordon guards KD and LeBron for a short stint and think he has the keys to the world on who’s tougher to guard

[@mikejosey8387]

Jimmy will never be harder to guard than LBJ Or KD

[@DevDemoe]

💯

[@chettthornton]

Why Jay sounded like SAS with that "Tell him again"?! Lmao

[@omariedwards6722]

It was Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas. Not Chris Dudley.

[@mahamedahmed8494]

Is butler harder even the hardest to guard in this series?💀💀there’s someone called jokic

[@ChrisJoestarr]

pls can u stop talking about lebron KD or Steph for a second?

[@illinoisave1]

Awesome television

[@alixus10]

SAS was high af for this segment. That legal Denver weed hits different

[@Flyeagle206]

Hold on molly and Stephan A goin out the country 👀🫣

[@alex4863]

I would say Butler is our AI of our time without the dribble skills, everyone keeps dismissing him but Butler keeps proving people wrong. I’m going to happy with whoever wins this series because both teams deserve this chip, both have worked hard and prove the mainstream and assumptions wrong. (I would personally prefer Denver to win, we’ll never see a Jokić type center that can pass and dribble to this degree he’s really a generational talent.)

[@Key-zl4qg]

horrible and i mean HORRIBLE TAKE!!!! did u just say jimmy is the AI of our generation???? nahhh with tht being said i’m off this until the game comes on tonight….

[@yeyo6521]

@@Key-zl4qg

[@GrabbaManman]

@@Key-zl4qg dumb response you just needa go back an read…he basically compared their mentally an ability to overcome different challenges not play style

[@Key-zl4qg]

@@GrabbaManman jimmy is literally loved by most of the NBA world… fans, players, coaches… how tf is he comparable to AI? are u dumb?

[@vonversace]

Tell’em

[@nonconformist01]

“Tell’em again” 🤣

[@bigshaq6634]

LeBron on a broken foot had a higher efg% that jimmy this playoffs with a higer VORP lmao. How is jimmy harder lol

[@sirhoopalot1125]

He also didn’t win a single game in the wcf lmao I mean not even ONE

[@xavierb9061]

Jim dropped 56

[@619AllThat]

He barely shot the ball 😂of course his EFG% will be higher Jimmy has averaged 5 more points in more games played

[@bigshaq6634]

​@@619AllThatDoesn't make sense considering jimmy averaged 4 more ft points a game. The points are similar when taking that out

[@BlkFreakozoid]

​@@sirhoopalot1125 Yeah, but how does that still make Jimmy much harder to guard? Your point makes no sense.

[@haywood0457]

Jimmy is not harder to guard than KD or LBJ. And I very much so dislike Mr. Train hop. What I will say is that Jimmy has more strength than KD, which is a limitation to KD. KD can be knocked off his spots from time to time and that is why he struggles when he's the clear 1 and teams focus their defensive efforts on him. But even still, just can't say Jimmy is harder to guard than him and surely not LBJ.

[@devmamba2492]

and you are dumb to think lbj is harder to guard than kd. lebron fanatics sure are dumb. and real ballers know otherwise but its always those who dont play ball are so dumb

[@DevDemoe]

💯

[@unspokenrespect]

That random Emmitt Smith reference 😂😂😂

[@goodiegoodiegumdrops]

This is literally the same conversation Gilbert Arenas had about the difference guarding kobe and A.I. One guy is all hustle the other is a routine based player but equally deadly in their own right.

[@thaidixon3852]

Not sure why this is a hot take lol Jimmy is extremely crafty I mean jrue holiday almost echoed this same sentiment

[@rickeyrockett1106]

Bro stop y'all gotta stop trolling nobody can guard kd 😭

[@thatboyneedssomemilkholemd819]

Jimmy got the most 40 point playoff games since 2020, and people act like what Jay is saying is crazy lmaooo

[@Jp2timezz]

@@rickeyrockett1106on god they delusional

[@matthewhhawk17]

If Grant Williams can guard Jimmy B, he’s not that hard to guard😂😂😂

[@gabestackson4476]

@MrHugePlaya he’s very wrong🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@gabestackson4476]

Grant Williams got cooked by Jimmy🤣🤣🤣. We all seen this on National Tv on TNT Game 2😉😎

[@Tev901]

Where'd that get the Celtics

[@thatboyneedssomemilkholemd819]

When has Grant Williams guarded Jimmy Butler

[@westonweddington9326]

Boyyyy brought out the body guard!!

[@Trey__CT]

Espn gotta come up with anything to have topics lmao

[@yengvang8737]

Stephen A always put a postseason debate to a career debate.

[@RTXSimplicity]

Nah it clearly says "in the past" it's an obvious career comparison

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

Given the fact that Gordon hasn't played Jimmy this postseason yet means they weren't talking about the postseason.

[@CoolTy23]

Exact reason why I’m not watching the finals this year

[@chrisdalightskin]

why so?

[@damareamosley1282]

This is the best rn bcuz I'm sma c ked

[@KevinCantWait08]

"Steve Smith... beautiful name by the way."🤣🤣🤣

[@619AllThat]

Healthy Playoff Jimmy is a problem. Dude dropped 56 on the bucks with the best perimeter and 2 of the best post defenders in the game.

[@SportsOnTheSide1]

And yet couldn't even score 20 in 3 of 7 games in the conference finals. Man's was watching Caleb Martin cook 🤣. Foh

[@SportsOnTheSide1]

@MrHugePlaya he bout to get cooked in these finals and it'll go away real quick

[@johnjones7405]

​@Sports On The Side Live u didnt watch the games or u didnt even look at boxscore good enough. He was best player on floor game 7 wit 28. Had 24 and 10 on a bad first half game 6. What statistic has caleb had over jimmy? Miami in 6

[@619AllThat]

@@SportsOnTheSide1 sounds like we found a salty Celtics fan 😭don’t be mad bro y’all got us last year

[@619AllThat]

@@SportsOnTheSide1 FOH bro bron was barely shooting the ball this post season and Kd wasn’t even the best player on his team this playoffs. Jokic is the only player in the post season who has an argument over jimmy

[@dre7147]

Jimmy Butler is the best 2 way player in the NBA right now his elite defense and electric offense is next level stuff, amazing to watch him play 🔒🔥

[@lucanwolf712]

Kawhi still exists..

[@vensonj]

Ringless

[@nostalgiagamesNC]

Almost at 800 subs 😌

[@harolddd3]

Jay Will “tell em” 😭😂

[@Bilnation]

Jay Williams hasn’t watched a Heat game since the Bucks series.

[@adriangiovanni1946]

That Denver altitude be getting to Stephen A fr

[@MetalFacedGamer]

Those j will ad libs Sounded like the Migos

[@realtrenorton]

This segment made me realize how much the same Mad Dogg & SAS are 😂

[@domoniquefleming9007]

The body guard is always here 😂

[@moeswagger2329]

I hope Gordon meant this season since he's just played them both and it's his opinion. "In the past though?" that would be crazy 😂😂

[@mallurypollard7815]

JB is a grinder and master of mid range. That’s Jordan kinda stuff, and fun to see in todays live or die by 3 era (even if I do love the splash bros.)

[@vensonj]

So having no rings or mvps is Jordan type of stuff?

[@mercenarygary1]

Sometimes I try to think about what small dog SAS reminds me of, it can't be chihuahua because that's Mad Dog.

[@SlimEagle5515]

Molly and SAS going to DR and Columbia? Oh yea he hitting that and big tricking 😂

[@Indyanajones_]

facts lmaoo