Stephen A. Smith Says Lakers’ ‘3 White Dudes’ Can’t Win and the Internet Has Opinions

The Lakers made a splash on Day 2 of free agency, landing center Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. That gives them a frontline of Kessler, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves. Three guys who, as Stephen A. Smith pointed out on his show Tuesday, are white.

“Where the h–l the Los Angeles Lakers think they’re going with a bunch of white dudes,” Smith said. “Your top 3 players are white dudes. This ain’t golf. This ain’t baseball. It ain’t even soccer.”

He posted a clip with the caption: “3 WHITE DUDES?! The Lakers Really Think THIS Can Win a Championship?” and it’s been getting cooked and shared all over social media.

Let’s be real for a second. Luka Doncic is a top-five player in the league when healthy. Austin Reaves just averaged 16 and 5 last season while shooting 38% from three. Walker Kessler is a 7-foot rim protector who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting two years ago. That’s not a bad trio by any stretch.

But Smith isn’t wrong that it’s unconventional. The NBA has historically been a league where Black stars lead championship teams. And in a market like Los Angeles, where optics and star power matter as much as wins, the visual of three white guys being the core is something people are going to talk about.

The Lakers front office has not responded publicly. But you can bet Rob Pelinka heard it. The team also added a couple of shooters in the second round of free agency and re-signed Max Christie to a team-friendly deal. They’re clearly trying to build around Luka’s playmaking and give him spacing and a lob threat in Kessler.

It’s still July. A lot can change between now and October. Maybe they trade for another wing or a veteran two-way guard. Maybe Bronny James becomes a rotation player (unlikely but who knows). But right now, the roster has a certain look to it, and Stephen A. is the loudest person pointing that out.

Fans online are split. Some are calling it racist. Others are saying he’s just stating the obvious about how the league works. A few are wondering why he didn’t bring up how many white players are on the Celtics roster. That conversation is probably coming.

The Lakers open the season in October against the Denver Nuggets. By then we’ll know whether the “three white dudes” thing is a punchline or a premature take.