Stephen A. isn’t concerned about Avery Bradley & other NBA players opting out | First Take

Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman discuss their level of concern about NBA players opting out of returning for the NBA's 2019-20 season restart in Orlando, Florida, following Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley deciding to opt out and Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic testing positive for coronavirus in Serbia.
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[TomStansfield]

Here we are, your 2 local basketball geniuses.. how you gonna act like Avery Bradley isn’t the best thing defensively on the Lakers. He’s a massive piece of their puzzle, but sure - because he’s not LBJ or Kawhi it’s irrelevant. How many times do these clowns have to make themselves look absolutely stupid before people stop listening to them ?! 🤷🏼‍♂️

[thedarklord]

Hennygod to LeBron- You couldn't live with your own failure where did that bring you, Back to me😎

[Bilnation]

Avery Bradley is a big loss for the Lakers this coming playoffs

[jeremiahvaughns]

It's a sad world when we are more concerned about entertainment than the livelihood of a human being.

[JaskaranSingh]

Stephen a smith will be cool unless lebron james opts out of it🤣🤣🤣

[Eleveneye]

It only shows how alot of people dont view players as actually humans only viewed as a athlete and entertainment purposes

[TheOneKeyToLife]

Ppl don’t realize how big a loss this is. One of their best perimeter defenders, is the perfect 3 & D guy.

[chosenjuan]

Avery: pulls out playing

JR: pulls out the Henny

[doesntmatter]

Starting to hit the fan. More players will test positive. More will sit out. That asterisk thing is starting to make its way back into the conversation.

[freshmediaconcept]

Of course he isn’t concerned which is the reason he’s about players returning because he knows his job is non essential and not that important without sports

[TheKingJason]

Stephen A is wrong here. Many players have said, it's the "others" (role players) who win championships

[bondball]

The ONE TIME they beat the clips...Avery Bradley had 20+....

[Smartkid]

I heard Lou Williams is 50/50 and I know Lebron will do backflips if he decides to opt out

[tabaridargan]

Stephen A want the season so bad.... he’s like the DJ akademics of nba

[InvestBetter.]

This is a major blow to the Lakers, who already had little perimeter defense, and that's the one thing you could count on Avery to give you. He played way over his head, scoring 24 points in the one Lakers win over the Clippers. Without Bradley, the lakers would be 0-3 against the Clippers. The little depth the Lakers had is now compromised. The Lakers are officially in trouble.

[sports]

I’m not surprised that players are opting out for health reasons

[pepq]

I love that Avery made this choice to protect his son and I am excited at his being a father first before a player. All players (PEOPLE) deserve the right to follow their conscience, that is the definition of liberty. I hope fans/owners realize that and stop characterizing them as ungrateful SOBs. From an economic standpoint, its the players that hold the true creative value of the sport. Owners, stadiums, logos, and even fans are completely replaceable. Nothing would be sweeter than to an "Uber-like" disruption of profession sports that upends the ridiculous caste system that rewards the few people at the top who refuse to share the values and culture of their players/public.

[lrdhocu]

Stephen A gets so caught up in being blindly contradictory that he contradicts people who agree with him. Last week the notion was “do your job” but today it’s “why would we be worried”

[jakehoffman]

When describing Betans he literally was talking about Avery Bradley, defense, hit shots, tough

[JigIsUp]

ESPN educate your employees. The mans child is at high risk 🤦‍♂️