Stephen A. Smith has made a career out of controversy, and this week, he just added another page to it. When Smith went on First Take and dropped his list of the top five NBA players to watch in the 2024-25 campaign, NBA fans didn’t just disagree — they let him know about it in every way possible.
Why Did Stephen A. Smith’s Top 5 NBA Players to Watch Set Fans Off?
Smith’s picks — Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Kyrie Irving — sound solid enough. However, the moment his list aired, social media fired off with sarcastic comments and straight-up disbelief. Fans were quick to pick apart the details, zeroing in on the names they felt just didn’t make sense for the 2024-25 season. They flooded the post with hot takes and one-liners.
For example, plenty of listeners couldn’t get past Kyrie Irving’s inclusion, especially since Irving tore his ACL in March 2025 and won’t suit up until at least January. One fan quipped, “Is Kyrie starting the season?” — making it clear they saw that selection as a head-scratcher, injury or not.
Is Kyrie starting the season?
— Juice. (@OnlyOneTochi) August 22, 2025
Meanwhile, another post hit Smith with blunt humor: “Please never make a list again.” That vibe kept popping up as the conversation built, with plenty of fans jumping in to say Smith’s ranking felt out of touch.
Please never make a list again…
— Robert Balzano (@robert_balzano) August 22, 2025
Butler’s spot on the list caught heat too. One fan called it as they saw it: “Kyrie is injured and he might not come back till January & Jimmy doesn’t play hard until the playoffs start,” showing how two of Smith’s top five were already tough sells for NBA diehards. Butler’s habit of saving his best for the postseason became another lightning rod for criticism.
Kyrie is injured and he might not come back till January & Jimmy doesn’t play hard until the playoffs start 🤦
— Carlos Martinez 🇺🇸 (@yankeesfanAZ) August 22, 2025
Some responses didn’t bother with long explanations. “This list is awful,” one fan wrote, summing up the general mood about Smith’s picks in just four words.
This list is awful
— VVS Veno (@VVS_Veno) August 22, 2025
Another fan jumped in with, “I am dead lol,” spelling out that, for many, Smith’s ranking was pure comedy.
I’m dead lol
— chef tony gooden (@cheftonygooden) August 22, 2025
Beyond the criticism, fans made it clear that other stars deserved a spot on Smith’s list. Unhappy fans raised the names of Victor Wembanyama, who made waves before a season-ending DVT, and Thunder sensation Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Oklahoma City standout who put up huge stats in the 2025 playoffs, helping his team win its first NBA title.
Add in Nikola Jokić, a three-time MVP with five straight top-two finishes, and the snubs were impossible to ignore. Leaving Jokić out was the last straw for plenty of NBA fans, who saw the omission as borderline laughable.
What Keeps NBA Fans Reacting to Smith’s Takes?
This uproar isn’t new for Smith. All year, he’s found himself wrapped in controversy, and fans now see his opinions as part entertainment, part aggravation. Whether it was fighting with LeBron James, getting into it with Ja Morant, or getting called out for playing solitaire during an NBA Finals game, Smith has managed to stay in the middle of every major debate.
Plus, Smith’s recent comments about Memphis city poured more fuel on the fire. So, when the latest list dropped, most fans were already primed not to take Smith’s opinions at face value. The backlash wasn’t just about the names he chose, but about frustration with his over-the-top style dominating hoops discussions.
Still, no matter how much heat he takes, Smith knows how to stay relevant. The controversy over his choices keeps him right where he wants to be: front and center, giving fans something to chew on. However, when that includes an injured Irving and a regular-season Butler over MVP favorites like Jokić or SGA, it’s easy to see why fans keep calling Smith’s takes into question.
