ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has found himself in another public spat, but this time with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. Earlier this week, Smith made comments in which he said that the Suns owner is on the verge of being recognized as the worst owner in the history of basketball. This came as the Suns fell this season to a 36-46 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. Furthermore, he went on to reference former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling in regards to his critique of Ishbia. Sterling, notably, was banned from the NBA following a series of racist statements.
Later, when asked at a press conference following the Suns’ regular season ending, Ishbia discussed the remarks by Smith and insisted he is owed an apology.
“Stephen A. Smith, I don’t take much he says seriously. I don’t think many people do, to be honest with you,” said Ishbia. “I think he’ll apologize to me. I think it’s disrespectful to put my name aligned with anybody that was kicked out of the league. To even say that kind of stuff, I think he’ll apologize.”
Subsequently, during Friday’s episode of First Take, Smith did take time to apologize for his comments comparing Ishbia to Sterling.
“I do owe him an apology because I mentioned Donald Sterling,” Smith said on ESPN. “I thought I was making it clear I was talking about basketball. I certainly did not mean to compare him to a person that was thrown out of this league and has been widely recognized as a racist.”
Moreover, Smith continued to explain how he could have been clearer with his comparison to Sterling when it came to the on-the-court product that he put out and the lack of success it had.
“I should be his name in the same breath as Donald Sterling in that regard. I did not mean to do that,” said Smith. “I was talking about the Donald Sterling that would be sitting courtside, heckling his own damn players and never winning anything and didn’t give a damn. That’s the Donald Sterling that I was talking about in terms of how ineffectual he was, ineffective he was as an owner on a basketball court.”
Ultimately, Smith owned up to how Ishbia felt he was owed an apology and followed through with the request. However, he refused to apologize for his on-the-court critique of the Suns’ success on the basketball court.
“Unfortunately for you, sir, that’s the only thing I’m wrong about, and that’s the only apology that you’re getting from me,” Smith said.
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