There is no need to search any farther for an engaging sports argument than ESPN’s First Take. There are always humorous and occasionally furious yelling matches between contestants on the show. That’s mostly due to seasoned sports media personality Stephen A. Smith. This time, the topic making waves on the internet is his characteristic Stephen’s A-List segment, in which the list is consistently described as “fluid.” Along for the ride were JJ Redick and Shannon Sharpe, who together broke down his list of the top five NBA players who should be honored beyond the confines of their own arenas. Stephen A. said that Draymond Green and Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors should be honored with statues after they retire.
Kendrick Perkins’ remarks during the Lakers vs. Nuggets game’s halftime performance ignited this controversy. That would have been the evening when LeBron James scored his 40,000th point. JJ and Sharpe would go on to dispute the ranking, claiming that stars like Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, and Kawhi Leonard ought to have been included instead. But more than anything, Stephen A.’s statement that Klay and Draymond—the two Warriors who assisted Steph Curry in winning four rings—deserve monuments has Twitter in a frenzy.
If someone disagrees with SA, then someone does not know basketball, according to this individual. “The fact that there are mfs in this comment section that seriously believe Klay and Draymond shouldn’t get statues is the reason i can’t talk ball with half of y’all on here.” With the complete opposite viewpoint, it appears that one more hoops fanatic won’t be speaking with anyone: “This has been Klay and Draymond legacy for the past 4 seasons.” In one of his tweets, Steph is shown asking for assistance after scoring a lot of points, and Klay and the others are heard saying, “Shoot that s*** Steph!” Draymond is jokingly trying to start fights by saying, “Lollll imma punch somebody.”
What do you think of Stephen A. Smith’s assertion that Draymond and Klay Thompson of the Warriors should have monuments outside of their arena? Do you believe that without them, Stephen Curry would not have been able to achieve his level of success? If Smith’s list qualifies as a “A-List,” explain why. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section; we’d want to hear from you. And for all the most recent information on Stephen A. Smith and First Take, never miss an update from HNHH. Lastly, stick around for everything else happening in the sports world.