The Los Angeles Lakers will have a new-look roster this upcoming season as LeBron James is leaving the team, while Walker Kessler is joining the franchise.
The Lakers traded for Kessler earlier this week and are signing him to a four-year, $130 million contract.
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler are slated to be the three highest-paid players on the Lakers’ roster for the next three seasons.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith believes that is a major problem.
“Where the hell the Los Angeles Lakers think they’re going with a bunch of white dudes?” Smith said. “Your three top players are white dudes? Really? This ain’t golf. This ain’t baseball. Hell, it ain’t even soccer. What y’all think this is? This is basketball.
“In NBA history, when have you seen your three most prominent players on a basketball team all be white and that takes you to the promised land? Somebody gotta say it so I’m saying it.”
Smith continued, stating that the Lakers have no shot of winning an NBA title with Doncic, Reaves and Kessler as their top three players.
He acknowledged that the players are talented, just not good enough to win a championship.
“The Los Angeles Lakers, you ain’t going anywhere when you’re led by three white dudes in today’s generation of basketball. I’m letting you know right now, it ain’t happening,” Smith said. “And Luka’s a bad brother. And Austin Reaves is no scrub. And they both have earned what they have earned. And them with LeBron James or some other brothers I get.
“But those two and Walker Kessler? You ain’t scaring anybody with that. And Rob Pelinka has done made this white dude central. No wonder LeBron James walked out the door.”
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