Former NFL star Emmanuel Acho was one of the first to call out Stephen A. Smith for his controversial comment about the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Smith also found heavy support from other stars in this regard, including former NFL MVP Cam Newton.
Why Cam Newton Is Backing Stephen A. Smith Despite Backlash From Emmanuel Acho
With LeBron James no longer on the roster, the Lakers’ foundation has shifted to Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler. That led Smith to question whether a team built around three white stars could realistically contend for an NBA championship.
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Smith has long argued that racial bias has prevented Black candidates from receiving equal opportunities in the NFL, particularly at quarterback, head coach, and general manager, while his latest comments about the Lakers also sparked criticism.
However, Newton is among those who didn’t find Smith’s comments about the Lakers troublesome.
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“Because Stephen Anthony, he ain’t wrong,” Newton said. “How he said it was a little shaky. It was all about what he was saying in his message that kind of rubbed people the wrong way. White dudes in this climate, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, it don’t matter.
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“A racial slur, a racist slur. Do I think it was a slur? No. Do I think he was wrong? [sighs]. Cuz I can see if he would have said, ‘Man, where you going to go with them, white boys?’”
Newton wasn’t alone in backing Smith, as analyst Nick Wright also argued that many people overreacted to Smith’s remarks. Wright said the discussion became too personal because many fans likely had the same initial thought upon seeing a Lakers core featuring Reaves, Dončić, and Kessler.
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However, the trio has plenty of promise on the court. Reaves and Dončić have already been playing magnificently for the Lakers, while Kessler’s addition makes sense, as before getting hurt last season, he was averaging 14.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
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While many got triggered by Smith’s take, he later released another video addressing Acho and other critics, making it clear he was not walking back his original comments.
“What I said, and I’m going to reiterate this, is when have we seen a team with three of its top players who happen to be white delivering a championship?” Smith said. “Can we talk (about) basketball? Because that’s what I’m talking about. I’m talking (about) basketball.”
Meanwhile, Acho also stood by his criticism of Smith, saying the analyst was “all the way wrong.” He said that if Smith intended to analyze basketball, he should have focused solely on basketball instead of bringing race into the conversation.
The beef will likely be in the headlines for a few more days as the NBA enjoys the offseason. However, the NFL will be active soon, with training camps beginning this month.
