:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(790x455:792x457)/Olivier-Rioux-florida-gators-110725-tout-0b35b6a3d1294976b7f55e86fc54f1d5.jpg)
Guy is 7' 9" and he couldn't cut it at Florida. Absolutely atrocious footwork.
Posted on 04/04/2026 8:55:17 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Matt calls Stephen A.’s criticism of LeBron “BS” because he also criticizes famous Black people on his show.
Former NBA player Matt Barnes called out ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith for criticizing LeBron James for his comments about the Memphis Grizzlies.
James was recently on the “Bob Does Sports” show with Robby “Bobby Fairways” Berger, and the Los Angeles Lakers star called Memphis and Milwaukee boring NBA cities while also declaring that the Grizzlies should just move to Nashville.
Skip Bayless calls the Lakers the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA: "Everything they do gets ridiculously exaggerated"Skip Bayless calls the Lakers the Dallas Cowboys of the NBA: "Everything they do gets ridiculously exaggerated" Watch More
Smith went on a rant in his show, calling out LeBron for disrespecting Memphis while not thinking about the welfare of the Black community there, who could be economically affected if the Grizzlies leave town. However, Barnes said James was merely echoing a topic that is already a hot discussion.
“I played in Memphis, got a lot of love for the city, but there’s no doubt that the city needs an upgrade when it comes to its facilities for pro players. But Stephen A., you shouldn’t have a problem with that,” said Barnes.
The possibility that the Grizzlies are leaving Memphis is not a secret
The Grizzlies have called FedExForum home since 2004, and in recent years, the franchise has been seeking updated amenities to create better revenue opportunities. A $500 million renovation has been discussed since 2022, but so far, only $80 million has been approved for maintenance and initial upgrades. However, with the lease set to expire in 2029, there have been stories about the Grizzlies moving to Nashville — it wasn’t LeBron’s idea.
As for Smith saying James wasn’t mindful about his words because the Grizzlies’ leaving town would affect the Black community in Memphis, which he said composed 63 percent of its total population, Matt said Stephen A. isn’t any different because he has used his platform to disparage prominent Black women personalities, which is worse.
“You’re talking about his words and what they mean to the Black community. But you’ve been the same man in front of the camera for the last handful of months disrespecting Serena Williams, disrespecting Jasmine Crockett, disrespecting Kamala Harris, and tap dancing for the whole white Republican Party but you got an issue with LeBron talking about a trending topic and his words carry weight and he doesn’t understand what his words can do to the Black community,” added Barnes.
View post: Khloe Kardashian reveals she kept Lamar Odom’s secrets for years out of fear: “I had the show, but I didn’t make money like that” Off The Court Khloe Kardashian reveals she kept Lamar Odom’s secrets for years out of fear: “I had the show, but I didn’t make money like that”
Khloe was a star in the making during her marriage to Lamar.
Matt called out Stephen A.’s “BS”
Smith and Barnes used to be tight. When the former forward was involved in a controversy with former Lakers teammate Derek Fisher over his ex in 2015, Stephen A. opened his show to Matt so he could have a platform to explain his side of the issue, as he was being painted in a negative light.
Matt acknowledged Stephen A.’s help, but still, he thinks it was right to call out the ESPN anchor for his hypocrisy towards LeBron.
“You understand the bulls—t that you’re talking and what that can do to the Black community? We all used to have a lot of love for you, bro. Particularly me, cuz you looked out. But we’re not gonna forget the bulls—t you’re on right now,”Barnes added.
Stephen A.’s beef with LeBron is well-known and deep. He has admitted he doesn’t like James and doesn’t care if the feeling is mutual. Although he hasn’t been talking about LBJ as much as he did last season, everyone knows that he was merely waiting for the right issue to pounce on him. That’s why Barnes thinks this is all nonsense from Smith.
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Isn’t this what Zoom was invented for?
I’ve always thought of NBA players, lucky.
Lucky they were born to be tall; blessed with height. Otherwise, they’d be the trash collectors or in the building trades, or as handymen. Not born lucky to get their millions.
Even as they ‘excel’ in basketball, most of what they do is dunk the ball. I can dunk more stylishly than you, and I can more easily push people out of the way to get my dunks.
Such talent.
The comments of his about Crocket and Harris are spot-on. Again, facts don’t care how you feel about things. They are what they are. Crocket let her own hubris rule her mouth and now she’s out of a job. In a debate between Harris and a box of rocks, my money is on the box of rocks. She up-chucks a word salad anytime a question of substance is directed at her, because she doesn’t have a clue what the answer is. The only fair debate with Harris would be if she was up against AOC. Then you’d have two boxes of rocks yelling at each other.
"Sit down and shut up. A trained seal can throw a ball through a hoop."
Hey, Muggsy Bogues was 5’3’’ and Spud Webb was 5’7’’.
“White” Republican party?
Blacks are welcome if they choose to join us, and always welcome to vote for us. If they choose otherwise, it makes us look “white’, I guess.
So the proper stance is for the Grizzles to stay in Memphis? It’s not like Memphis earned the franchise. They stole it from Vancouver. Nashville or whatever other burg stealing it from Memphis would be in the what goes around comes around file.
What made Kareem even more valuable was his sky hook. Who could defend it? And he had to learn that due to the dunk being removed.
Guy is 7' 9" and he couldn't cut it at Florida. Absolutely atrocious footwork.
“...the city needs an upgrade when it comes to its facilities for pro players.”
How about this? The NBA should build exclusive hotel facilities in every town an NBA team travels to. Build them to whatever standard they wish. Provide whatever level of decadent entertainment options they require and take care of the management of said facilities. They wouldn’t need but maybe 30 rooms.
Then the can bitch to themselves.
I am SOOOOOOOO sick of
Insurrectionist Leftist
Democrat Crybaby LeBron James
Uh oh. Homie mad Stephen went off the plantation.
Yet, these chiefly white folks hold extremist views not JUST on race…
…but on a plethora of matters. Indeed, this lot holds more extreme views overall than those held by more racially-diverse Dem groups.
These whites live in enclaves in cities, prefer going to museums over going to the range, and think religion is sophistry. Their policies and language all reek of a Superiority Complex.
The REAL intent behind the “rage” lie they push, is provocation. The provocateurs on the left blame rurals, their cousins on the right blame the urbanites. I’ve seen this movie before. The question is: will we ants recognize the TRUE fiend?
Mr. Bojangles was beloved...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.