Stephen A. Smith has been a staunch critic of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on his podcast, and he addressed recent news tying the presidential candidate with Smith’s usual topic of discussion: sports.
Smith took to his podcast “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Aug. 2 to react to news that the NBA’s Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to Never Back Down, a political action committee supporting DeSantis and his presidential campaign.
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But Smith said he wasn’t trying to “excoriate” the Orlando Magic, recognizing that while the team is led by majority Black players, a Black general manager and head coach, he knows the organization is owned by RDV Sports, who are owned by active Republican backers in the DeVos family.
The ESPN host said he believes there’s a “bigger story” behind this issue.
Smith called out professional athletes, particularly NBA and NFL players in the state of Florida, for not taking a stand for or against the Florida Governor.
“We’ve got a governor in Florida that has made a plethora of decisions that the LGBTQ community has found offensive, that Black people have found offensive, that immigrants have found offensive,” Smith said. “Where the hell else are all these other athletes? Where are you?”
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He even gave credit to Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, who has been vocal in his support of many right-wing beliefs, simply because he’s at least been public about his stance.
“Let me applaud [Isaac], because at least you know where he stands,” Smith said. “I’m not saying I agree with the decision, I’m just saying he’s made it clear where he stands.”
Smith, who said he’s a registered independent who often votes for Democratic candidates, asked for “consistency” among professional athletes. He said they should take a stance during moments like these instead of waiting for another George Floyd situation.
“One of us got to get murdered to take a position? It’s got to be police brutality to take a position?” Smith said. “Why can’t we look at simple policy and take a position?”
There are some pro athletes who have voiced their displeasure about the decision of the Orlando Magic to donate to the DeSantis-supporting PAC, including New Orleans Pelicans big man Larry Nance Jr.
Nance Jr. called out the franchise for supporting “a man that claims that slavery had personal benefits for the enslaved.”
So the @OrlandoMagic who have a majority black roster, a black head coach, and a black GM decided it was a good idea to support a man that claims that slavery had personal benefits for the enslaved? https://t.co/LI3FAXbMxb
— Larry Nance (@Larrydn22) August 2, 2023
Note: The National Basketball Players Association released a statement on August 3 addressing the stance of the players on the "alarming" contribution of the Orlando Magic stating that the team's donation "does not represent player support for the recipient."
