Kenny Smith called Stephen A. Smith over Kyrie Irving criticism

Kenny Smith said he called Stephen A. Smith regarding his criticism of Kyrie Irving when the “First Take” host had beef with the Mavericks star during the 2022 season.

During TNT’s pregame show Tuesday ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves, Kenny explained how he got Stephen A. to “fall back” in his previous battle with Irving.

“There’s been a constant change in the thought process about [Irving] by the mass media. As a basketball player, we’re not talking about his political and social stances and looking at him in a negative view,” Kenny said while discussing Irving’s growth.

“I’ll say it; I wasn’t going to say it. I’ve never said it to Kyrie, but I’ve said it to Stephen A. — because at one time Stephen A. was an advocate about having a battle with this guy — and I had to call Stephen, I’m like, ‘this guy is from our neighborhood.’

“I named like six people, and I said, ‘Stephen, those people mentored you mentored him, so when you say something about him you’re actually saying it about us.’ So he understand and they kind of fell back.

“As a media person, we have to understand that young men go through young things. They grow up, they appreciate things and they have a different view point then we might have had.”