“‘We Didn’t See It Back Then’: Stephen A. Smith Gets Real About Kyrie Irving’s Vaccine Stand and What He Now Realizes About It”
When Stephen A. Smith Looked Back and Saw Kyrie Differently
There are few things more shocking in the sports world than when a man who built his career on bold opinions suddenly admits maybe he was too harsh. That’s exactly what happened when Stephen A. Smith recently opened up about Kyrie Irving, revealing a rare moment of reflection that left fans speechless.
The clip making rounds online shows Stephen A. speaking passionately about Kyrie but this time, not in his usual fiery tone. “Kyrie’s a good brother, man,” he began, his voice carrying that mix of regret and respect that only comes when you realize you might have misjudged someone.
He admitted they used to butt heads because Kyrie “missed work too damn much.” That was classic Stephen A. blunt and direct but what followed next took everyone by surprise. He said he wanted to see Kyrie “dancing on the basketball court,” not arguing about vaccines or controversies. “Get your ass on the court. I need to see you,” he recalled thinking back then.
A Different Kind of Foresight
It’s rare for Stephen A. to soften his stance, but in hindsight, he said something few expected: “Now, obviously, in hindsight, the brother was right.” He wasn’t talking about basketball moves or game stats. He was talking about Kyrie’s refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine and how the world has since unfolded.
“Props to him for having the foresight to see that,” Stephen A. admitted. You could almost feel him swallowing his pride a man known for his confidence acknowledging that Kyrie may have seen something others didn’t.
At the time, Kyrie was criticized endlessly. Fans called him selfish. Analysts labeled him a distraction. And yes, Stephen A. was one of his loudest critics. He often shouted on live television about accountability, contracts, and professionalism. But now, with the dust settled and time offering perspective, that conversation feels entirely different.
He painted the picture perfectly “I’m living in a world where cats are making 38, 40, 45 million,” he said, pointing out that the league was under pressure from owners, GMs, and billionaires who had all complied with the government’s vaccine mandate. “Who the hell are they not to take the vaccine?” was the common refrain.
Stephen A. wasn’t just another media voice he was reflecting the mindset of a country under tension. People were scared, confused, and forced to make quick choices. In that chaos, Kyrie stood still. He didn’t bend. And now, years later, even his harshest critics are beginning to admit that maybe, just maybe, his stand wasn’t madness it was courage.
From Criticism to Respect
Kyrie has always been one of those players who divides opinion. To some, he’s a magician with the ball a poet in motion. To others, he’s complicated, unpredictable, and too independent for his own good. But what Stephen A. just did is something the sports world rarely sees: accountability.
When a journalist who built his reputation on fiery takes stops mid-fire to admit maybe he misread the moment that’s huge. It’s human. And it’s a reminder that sports aren’t just about stats or championships. They’re about people who are often misunderstood because they stand apart.
Stephen A. spoke not just about Kyrie’s actions but about how the world reacted to him. “We didn’t see it at the time,” he said. “But he did.” Those few words hit like a headline that no one expected. For someone who’s often accused of yelling too much, this time his words were quiet but powerful.
In that moment, you could sense something bigger happening an unspoken bridge between two strong personalities who once clashed but now understood each other. Kyrie may never respond to that comment publicly, but he probably doesn’t have to. The respect was already given.
The Bigger Picture
This isn’t really about vaccines anymore. It’s about how quick we are to judge athletes before understanding the full story. Kyrie became a symbol of defiance, of questioning authority and while that made him a target, it also made him a voice for individuality in a league often obsessed with control.
Stephen A. might not have meant to start a redemption arc for Kyrie, but that’s exactly what he did. Because now, when fans look back at that 53-second clip, they don’t just see an analyst talking they see a man reflecting, realizing that sometimes the player you thought was difficult might have been the one who saw the world most clearly.