NBA fans had mixed reactions after Stephen A. Smith publicly apologized to Kyrie Irving for how he handled the Brooklyn Nets star’s stance against the COVID-19 vaccine. During his show, Smith admitted that he was “too harsh” and that he now understands “where Kyrie was coming from,” saying it was never about defiance but about personal choice.
The apology immediately made the rounds online.
@kyriecenterig wrote,
“Stephen A. Smith speaks on his past issues with Kyrie and his stance on the COVID vaccine,”
Stephen A. Smith speaks on his past issues with Kyrie and his stance on the COVID vaccine
“Kyrie is a good brother man… and in hindsight the brother right because we see all the conspiracy theories that came out and props to him”
(🎥 @7PMinBrooklyn) pic.twitter.com/nrzdhaqI3g
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) October 20, 2025
while @KennethSmi74548 replied,
“He lost me with the flat earth nonsense.”
Another user, @destroynectar, chimed in,
“Everyone called him crazy too.”
Smith’s sudden change of tone surprised many NBA fans who remembered how strongly he criticized Irving in 2021 for missing games due to his vaccination refusal. At the time, Smith accused Kyrie of being selfish and irresponsible. His recent apology, however, painted a softer picture, claiming that he “respects how Kyrie stood by his beliefs.”
Regardless, Kyrie’s name trending again shows how polarizing he remains. His off-court views once overshadowed his game, but now, it’s Smith’s apology that has NBA fans arguing about who really owed who an explanation.
LeBron Once Tried To Reunite With Kyrie — NBA Fans Revisit What Could’ve Been
While Stephen A. Smith’s apology to Kyrie Irving made headlines, NBA fans also revisited a moment from a few seasons back—when LeBron James reportedly tried to bring Kyrie to Los Angeles.
According to @TheDunkCentral,
“LeBron quietly pushed for a reunion with Kyrie Irving — a move that would’ve required trading Westbrook, despite publicly denying it.”
Russell Westbrook reportedly grew tired of LeBron’s “fake” behavior during their time in L.A, per @YaronWeitzman
“I hate that fake sh*t, I just can’t do it.” 😳
• LeBron quietly pushed for a reunion with Kyrie Irving — a move that would’ve required trading Westbrook, despite… pic.twitter.com/G7ryAaJG4c
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 20, 2025
Reports at the time suggested that LeBron believed a reunion could revive the same chemistry they had in Cleveland, where the duo won the 2016 NBA title.
Fans were quick to weigh in. @sean3377 posted,
“I can’t blame LeBron for wanting Kyrie rather than Russ. Russ is a great athlete and plays hard, but he just can’t shoot. No team with Russ playing a major role has (or ever will) win a championship.”
Another fan, @BrewMillionaire, simply wrote,
“If you can get Kyrie for Russ, run dat.”
The trade never happened, but many NBA fans now see it as a missed opportunity. With Westbrook’s fit constantly questioned and Kyrie proving he can still perform at a high level, that “what if” scenario has only grown louder.
In the end, this is just another ‘what if’ scenario that NBA fans keep playing in their heads. LeBron and Kyrie’s relationship had everything, and it nearly came full circle in Los Angeles. Whether the future still holds this tandem in the cards or not, the fans can only leave it to their imagination on what would’ve been.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
