Stephen A. Smith expresses regret for past comments about Kyrie Irving

Stephen A. Smith addressed his past criticism of Kyrie Irving during his podcast on July 31, 2026. He expressed regret for calling Irving detrimental to the Brooklyn Nets' championship hopes amid the player's COVID-19 vaccine standoff during the 2021 season. Smith acknowledged his responsibility in making those remarks and stated, 'I did him wrong.' He emphasized the need to improve his approach in the future. Irving, who has been vocal about his stance on vaccines, faced considerable backlash during the pandemic over his decision not to play due to vaccination mandates in New York City, leading to his limited participation with the Nets.

• 4:19 AMYahoo Sports — Stephen A. Smith vows to ‘do better’ after past criticism of Kyrie Irving