SPN host Stephen A. Smith is facing intense backlash after criticizing the Los Angeles Lakers' roster makeup. On a recent episode of his podcast, the prominent commentator took aim at the team's newly formed core. He questioned whether a team with three white players could succeed in the modern NBA.
Smith specifically mocked the franchise's trade for center Walker Kessler. The move pairs Kessler with superstars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. He bluntly asked his audience where the Lakers thought they were going with "a bunch of white dudes."
The controversial host went on to question the history of the sport. He demanded to know when a team led by three white players had ever won a championship. Critics quickly pointed to 1980s Celtics legends Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Danny Ainge.
OutKick reached out to Smith via email to clarify his comments. The outlet asked if he believed white athletes were inherently inferior. Smith did not respond to the inquiry by the time of publication.
Smith recently appeared on Fox News on The Will Cain Show to defend his claims. Host Will Cain directly confronted the ESPN analyst, calling his remarks "racist." Cain noted that if he claimed a Black quarterback could not win a Super Bowl, he would be rightly labeled a racist.
Smith called Cain's characterization "fair" and noted he was not offended by the feedback. However, he quickly doubled down on his underlying argument. He asserted that a trio of white players has not won a championship since the Minneapolis Lakers did it between 1949 and 1955.
Cain countered by pointing out that a trio of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Cooper Flagg is clearly capable of winning. He also noted that Larry Bird and Kevin McHale won three titles with Danny Ainge. Smith's argument only survives on a technicality because Hall of Famer Robert Parish happened to be the team's third-best player.
*Fox News’ Will Cain Plays Stephen A. Smith’s Blatant RACIST Rant: LA Lakers Can’t Win With Three White Dudes as Top Players*
Will Cain: “A) You’re wrong, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Cooper Flagg… I can name three of the best players in the NBA right now that are WHITE, and if… pic.twitter.com/kc0t1ASpmE
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) July 7, 2026
The controversy has highlighted a massive racial double standard in sports media. Analysts noted the severe outrage that would follow if a white commentator made similar remarks about Black athletes. Many accuse Smith of reducing elite professional sports stars to their race.
Other prominent media figures have also pushed back against Smith's comments. Skip Bayless strongly disagreed with the claim that three white players cannot win a championship together. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic remains widely regarded as the best basketball player on the planet.
The uproar comes at a tense time for Smith's relationship with ESPN. The network recently signed him to a massive five-year, 100 million dollar contract extension. However, his flagship show has posted sluggish ratings while competitors continue to gain ground.