{"id":2623094,"date":"2026-07-02T22:15:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T02:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espns-stephen-a-smith-says-post-lebron-lakers-cant-win-because-of-race-three-top-players-are-white-dudes\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T22:19:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T02:19:02","slug":"espns-stephen-a-smith-says-post-lebron-lakers-cant-win-because-of-race-three-top-players-are-white-dudes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/espns-stephen-a-smith-says-post-lebron-lakers-cant-win-because-of-race-three-top-players-are-white-dudes\/","title":{"rendered":"ESPN&#8217;s Stephen A. Smith Says Post-LeBron Lakers Can&#8217;t Win Because of Race: &#8216;Three Top Players Are White Dudes?&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">36<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fespns-stephen-a-smith-says-post-lebron-lakers-cant-win-because-of-race-three-top-players-are-white-dudes%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2623094&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content features a humorous critique by veteran ESPN sports journalist Stephen A. Smith regarding the Los Angeles Lakers&#8217; roster and championship prospects. Smith comments on the predominance of white players, specifically Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler, suggesting that having only white top players is unusual and unlikely to lead to success in today\u2019s basketball landscape.He sarcastically questions the Lakers&#8217; strategy, emphasizing that successful teams traditionally feature a mix of players, including Black athletes. Smith also references ancient NBA champions like the 1985-86 Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, to highlight the rarity of all-top players being white. The commentary has sparked reactions on social media, with some users accusing Smith of racism and pointing out double standards in how such comments are received based on race. the discourse underscores ongoing debates about race, representation, and stereotypes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/snl-tiptoes-around-uyghur-genocide-jokes-about-china-taunting-world-before-olympics\/\" title=\"&#039;SNL&#039; Tiptoes Around Uyghur Genocide, Jokes About China Taunting World Before Olympics\">sports commentary<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Veteran sports journalist and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith took an old and largely humorous trope to a new level.<\/p>\n<p>In a clip from his podcast, \u201cThe Stephen A. Smith Show,\u201d posted Wednesday to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-new-acting-attorney-general-jeff-rosen-recently-wrote-an-essay-on-foreign-influence-in-us-elections-this-tells-us-a-little-about-his-knowledge-of-whats-going-on-today\/\" title=\"The New Acting Attorney General Jeff Rosen Recently Wrote an Essay on Foreign Influence in US Elections \u2013 This Tells Us A Little About His Knowledge of What\u2019s Going On Today\">social media platform<\/a> X, Smith declared that in the wake of longtime star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/espns-stephen-smith-says-cant-stand-lebron-james-explains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LeBron James\u2019<\/a> impending departure from the team, the NBA\u2019s Los Angeles Lakers have a colorful problem that will keep them from winning a championship.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour three top players are white dudes? Really?\u201d Smith asked in exaggerated disbelief.<\/p>\n<p>Superstar guard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Luka Doncic<\/a> and backcourt mate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reaveau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Austin Reaves<\/a>, both white, remain as holdovers from the 2025-26 Lakers.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/49237403\/lakers-trading-jazz-center-walker-kessler-sources-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a>, Los Angeles acquired Utah Jazz fourth-year center <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kesslwa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Walker Kessler<\/a>, also white, for future draft compensation.<\/p>\n<p>The Kessler acquisition came one day after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/story\/_\/id\/49226472\/lebron-james-informs-lakers-plans-play-elsewhere-2026-27\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN\u2019s<\/a> Shams Charania reported that James informed the Lakers of his plans to play elsewhere in 2026-27, his record 24th season in the league.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/espns-stephen-smith-calls-trump-upgrade-biden-days-blaming-nba-loss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smith<\/a>, whether half joking or fully serious, expressed skepticism about Los Angeles\u2019 basketball future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they\u2019re going with a bunch of white dudes?\u201d Smith asked. \u201cYour three top players are white dudes? Really? This ain\u2019t golf! This ain\u2019t baseball! Hell, it ain\u2019t even soccer! What do y\u2019all think this is? This is basketball!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The veteran commentator then insisted that experience proves the Lakers\u2019 folly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn NBA history, when have you seen your three most prominent players on a basketball team all be white, and that takes you to the Promised Land?\u201d Smith added. \u201cSomebody got to say it, so I\u2019m saying it! This is basketball. I\u2019m not complaining. I\u2019m simply making the point. The Los Angeles Lakers, you ain\u2019t going anywhere, being led by three white dudes in today\u2019s generation of basketball! I\u2019m letting you know right now, it ain\u2019t happenin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/stephen-smith-goes-espn-challenges-trump-president-questioned-iq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smith<\/a> even gave these specific white players their due \u2014 at least two of them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Luka\u2019s a bad brother,\u201d he continued, \u201cand Austin Reaves is no scrub, and they both have earned what they have earned, and them with LeBron James or some other brothers, I get. But those two and Walker Kessler? You ain\u2019t scaring anybody with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smith concluded by calling the Lakers \u201cWhite Dude Central.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo wonder LeBron James walked out the door,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">3 WHITE DUDES?! The Lakers Really Think THIS Can Win a Championship?<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc47 Watch the full episode. Link in the comments. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jTQ2vrDV7C\">pic.twitter.com\/jTQ2vrDV7C<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/stephenasmith\/status\/2072397917055262848?\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, many X users complained about what they saw as a \u201cracist double standard.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Shows America\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >great racist double standard<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Any white espn guy goes on his show and says \u201c3 black dudes?? This is hockey!! Not basketball\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Instantly fired<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sin City Sports Hub (@SinCitySportHub) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SinCitySportHub\/status\/2072407596787761587?\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">imagine if a white man said \u201c3 BLACK DUDES!?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 osc (@oscgalla) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/oscgalla\/status\/2072398016514830545?\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Imagine an NHL analyst saying the same exact thing about a team whose best three players were \u201cblack dudes\u201d\u2026 his career being over in disgrace would be the least of his problems\u2026 but a black man can get on TV and spew racism like this with impunity<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adino HaEtzni (@Sammoz36) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Sammoz36\/status\/2072412336992723325?\">July 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/BOS\/1986.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1985-86 Boston Celtics<\/a> won the NBA title with legends Larry Bird and Kevin McHale as their top two players. Smith, however, did specify three.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, anyone who grew up around basketball recognizes the \u201cwhite guys can\u2019t play\u201d running joke. Actors Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson even starred in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boxofficemojo.com\/year\/1992\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">blockbuster<\/a> 1992 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0105812\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">comedy<\/a> called \u201cWhite Men Can\u2019t Jump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-announcers-stunned-irate-lebron-james-gets-physical-referee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">James<\/a> as their third-leading scorer behind Doncic and Reaves, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/LAL\/2026.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025-26 Lakers<\/a> made the playoffs and defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round before getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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Smith humorously comments on Lakers&#8217; roster with three white stars after LeBron&#8217;s exit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2623095,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Stephen-A.-Smith-on-Lakers.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[5851,9936,82134,5069,32150],"class_list":["post-2623094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-espn","tag-lakers","tag-post-lebron","tag-race","tag-stephen-a-smith"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Stephen-A.-Smith-on-Lakers.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2623094"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623094\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2623098,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2623094\/revisions\/2623098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2623095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2623094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2623094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2623094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}