“Stephen A. Smith Unleashes Controversial Take: Is This NBA Team Killing the Spirit of Basketball?”

In the world of sports, the narrative can shift in the blink of an eye, especially when it comes to basketball. So, here’s a pressing question: Can a team packed with superstars falter so spectacularly that they become a laughingstock instead of title contenders? That’s precisely the dilemma facing the Phoenix Suns. After adding marquee names like Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to their roster, expectations soared. Fans were dreaming of championship rings, but reality has taken a harsh turn. With Kevin Durant sidelined and the Suns teetering on the edge of missing the play-in tournament, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back, labeling the team as “an atrocity” and claiming they’re “bad for basketball.” Ouch! As we delve deeper into the ticking clock of the Suns’ season, it becomes clear that the road ahead may lead to rebuilding, not glory. Buckle up, folks—this rollercoaster ride through the ups and downs of the NBA is just getting started.

While many basketball fans are fixated on talent and may think the most talented teams win championships, that isn’t always the case at the NBA level.

Over the last couple of years, one NBA team has had just about as much star power as any other, but it has failed to be much more than a mediocre squad.

The Phoenix Suns were expected by many to become contenders when they traded for Kevin Durant two years ago and followed up that trade with one for star guard Bradley Beal during the summer of 2023.

But they have almost nothing to show for both deals, and right now, they’re in grave danger of missing the play-in tournament, especially after Kevin Durant suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and is expected to miss at least one week of action.

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith had some harsh words for the Suns on “First Take.”

“The Phoenix Suns are an atrocity. They are bad for basketball.”

"The Phoenix Suns are an atrocity. They are bad for basketball."

—@stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/JE8DdUqrFG

— First Take (@FirstTake) March 31, 2025

Optimism was high for the Suns upon Durant’s arrival, but they only got as far as the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and suffered a first-round sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves last year.

They started 9-2 this season, but injuries and poor play caused their record to drop fairly quickly, and they’re now in 11th place in the Western Conference with a 35-40 record.

No matter how this season turns out for the Suns, they’re expected to trade the 36-year-old Durant this summer, which means they could be in rebuilding mode just months from now.

The post Stephen A. Smith Says 1 NBA Team Is Bad For Basketball appeared first on The Cold Wire.