HELL NO! Stephen A. SOUNDS OFF on Kawhi Leonard's availability & how fans should feel | First Take 

Where is Minnesoter ? Stephen A. keep saying this place but I can't find it nowhere on the map 😂

Bro, dude was legit dealing w swelling on his operated knee. He played 70 games.

Stephen A has been Kawhis BIGGEST hater for years now. Said he should retire last year

Stephen A did all this yelling and said absolute nothing. How tf you clowning someone for --- aghh nvm. Forget it. A waste of energy.

Kawhi Leonard should not play in the Olympics I agree with Stephen A Smith😢😢😢

Too bad Stephen A. Kawhi is going to rep the USA DESPITE what you have to say.

Kawhi is a supplementary part? Do this NBA analysts even watch basketball? Only 3 players in this team USA Roster have the credentials of Kawhi Leonard and they are LeBron, Steph and KD. None of these other players can say they above Kawhi.

If kawaii turned the offer down SAS would still be pissed.

Stephen “Hate on Kawhi at every moment I can get” Smith🤡

Actually Joel embids best complimentary player was Jimmy Butler....

I got my eyes on Luka (and the Mavs), KD (and the Suns) and the Clippers with Kawhi HEALTHY

Steve Ballmer not gonna do anything. He should just be thankful that Kawhi is signed for the next 3 years and knowing that for the next 3 years, Clippers can compete for a title because you have Kawhi. Kawhi played 68 games this year with 2 repaired surgical knee, and hopefully he can stay healthy all throughout the playoffs. Stephen A, where is that energy when Joel Embiid keep getting hurt and not available. What has Joel Embiid done in the league? Kawhi is a 2 time champion, with 2 Finals MVPs. He has the credentials in the NBA, put some respect on his name. All these players you support and defend on tv have not done anything in the league (Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Ant Man, Luka) None of these players are champions let alone 2 time champions with 2 Finals MVP. If he wants to play for team USA let him be. Who are you to say no and complain? The disrespect you have for Kawhi to me is personal.

Does Molly even listen to what these dudes say? This segment was a miss. Not knowing who is supposed to speak, where the heck is Minnesorter, Legler predicting West and Molly asking are we doing West?

We just gonna skip over how Rudy got his vote for DPOY over Wemby…cool

Molyy forgot Denver was in west lol at last second

It made my day when Kawhi got that 12th spot on team USA 🇺🇸 but the icing on top was knowing that SA would most definitely be crying about it😂 dude has it out for Kawhi for no reason! Let’s go Clippers🏆

Can we just go a day without hearing about KD, LBJ, AD, the Suns, Clippers, and Lakers. How about talk what ANT has done for the Timberwolves, how the young core in OKC has gone from one of the worst teams in the NBA to securing the 1 seed in the west. How about giving Luka and Kyrie and the Mavs some air time they've been on a tear ever since the all star break we don't even hear about Boston and they've got the best record in the league 😂😂😂. These morning debate shows are getting horrible flooded with the same stories and similar topics everyday.

Stephen hates kawhi

Sas really asking kawhi to miss national duty for nba, wow😂

Love hearing legler talk ball

I can actually see Kawhi’s knees hurting from the flight 😂

Tim be spittin facts

KD got 2 games on Jokic last year while Lebron got ZERO…

In the next episode of DragonBallZ!

Dafuq is Minnesoter???!!

lol that Bobby Brown analogy was hilarious 😂😂😂

Harden is straight up ballin out. 🔥

It’s a maricle kawawi played 60 games I’m with Steven a he’s a superstar but he shouldn’t play for USA injured to much

Steven A is still salty with KD after all these years😂

What position players are the Cavaliers in need for the NBA Finals

Load management for Olympics. That's national spirit!

Minnesoter???🤔🤔🤔🤔

MinnesotER

minnesoter!

Molly you and the boys always make my day… 😅

Leonard got 2 rings his resume be completed with Olympic gold

The real headline should be why jrue holiday made team usa but kyrie didn't?

I think legs needs to be a coach on somebody’s bench

The difference in the way they talk abt Ad and kawhi being injury prone vs kd and embiid is insane😂

Was Maxey not there last year??

Tyrese maxey finally getting recognized.. I love it

“Are we going west or are we done” I did west 😕

Stephen A acting like Kawhi is is playing in the Olympics and sitting down in the playoffs he does understand the Olympics is after the NBA Finals so the NBA would be over then if Kawhi wants to play for the gold let him do it the man played 68 games and had a great season!!

Why do all the players get injured the minute playoffs start.

Mini soda, what's that😅

Sas finally said kyrie should play over kwhai

Minnesoter

they talking about clippers fans like they exist 😂😂😂

I'm hoping he has a good series.

Why does SAS keep calling Min that 😂😂😂

Minnesoter are dangerous bro

This dude SAS has to be the funniest person on the planet man. I honestly only watch ESPN because of this dude man

Mr I hit 17 straight 3s always sounding off on someone

Yall realize Molly different when Unc on First take 👀

This is what I love about Stephen A he keeps it 100 he says what I can’t see

@2:19 if you got good headphones, you can hear the Molly ablibs trying to interrupt Legs to give her boo extra screen time

Kd is not the only one with pressure. D book and Beal are under pressure as well. Frank Vogel is under pressure.

I see Tyrese Maxey as a Jamal Murray type player borderline superstar

ESPN, This video is fantastic! I liked it a lot!

He says *”They have a defense that gets out and defends”* 🤔 okay lol.

Windhorst knows so much more about ball than stephen A

Yet Kawhi is having inflammation but Yet yall calling out Stephen A Smith 😂😂.

Molly doesnt even pay attention. Legler gave his west picks for 5-10s and she had to ask is he going west multiple times.

Only series that will go 7 is Lakers/Denver

Kawai Load-Management is selfish

You just keep downplaying the Olympics and then get upset when Noah Lyles has issues with your World Champion claims smh

they’ll never be another Stephen A. 😂 🙏

They should ask Melo (Anthony), before asking Kawhi so he could be one of the Team USA greats.

I’m comin Elizabeth!

Replace Kawhi with D Rose!

Didn’t he say he should retire?

Stephen A destroyed Kawhi with that Bobby Brown comparison. "He missed the concert, but he showed up to the after party"😂😂😂

molly must be partaking in 4/20 early or something lol she seems lost today

KY Derby Winner’s Last Prep Since 1996 - 1996: Arkansas Derby (1st) 1997: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 1998: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 1999: Lexington Stakes (1st) 2000: Wood Memorial (1st) 2001: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2002: Illinois Derby (1st) 2003: Wood Memorial (2nd) 2004: Arkansas Derby (1st) 2005: Santa Anita Derby (4th) 2006: Florida Derby (1st) 2007: Blue Grass Stakes (2nd) 2008: Florida Derby (1st) 2009: Sunland Derby (4th) 2010: Arkansas Derby (2nd) 2011: Spiral Stakes (1st) 2012: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2013: Florida Derby (1st) 2014: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2015: Arkansas Derby (1st) 2016: Florida Derby (1st) 2017: Florida Derby (1st) 2018: Santa Anita Derby (1st) 2019: Florida Derby (1st) 2021: Santa Anita Derby (2nd) 2022: Jeff Ruby Steaks (4th) 2023: Florida Derby (2nd) Santa Anita Derby: 8 Florida Derby: 7 Arkansas Derby: 4 Wood Memorial: 2 Lexington: 1 Illinois Derby: 1 Blue Grass: 1 Sunland Derby: 1 Spiral: 1 Jeff Ruby: 1 Winners of their last prep: 17/27 = 63% Losers of their last prep: 10/27 = 37% 1st: 17 2nd: 7 3rd: 0 ITM in their last prep: 24/27 = 88.9% I’m aware Justify is no longer considered the winner of the 2018 SA Derby but I’m putting him here because he did finish 1st similar to why I’m using Maximum Security and Medina Spirit for 2019 and 2021. I’m using their final preps for this. I’m not going to use Bolt d’Oro, Country House, and Mandaloun’s final prep. I’m going to exclude 2020. That was a weird year seeing the Belmont first at 9F. I’m only going back to 1996 because that was the first year I got into horse racing. According to this history, Catching Freedom and Honor Marie would be tosses. Their last prep was the Louisiana Derby which hasn’t produced a winner if that happened to be their final prep. And this also doesn’t bode well for Sierra Leone either. Strike the Gold in 1991 was the last BG winner who won the roses. Street Sense nearly won it in 2007 but Dominican nosed him out. Keeneland had installed synthetic that season. The Santa Anita Derby has been the best final prep since 1996 but I’m not sure how to feel about Stronghold. I’m not feeling the horses who ran in SA. If Imagination was in the KY Derby, I wouldn’t be high on him either. Stronghold finished slow and his Beyer of 89 for his recent win is the lowest fig I’ve seen for a winner in a G1 final prep. I may have him in a few bets being a Ghostzapper fan. Florida Derby has been the most productive final prep with KY Derby winners having 4 of the last 7 since 2016. Three of those won both races. But here we go again like Forte last year. Forte won the BC Juvenile and Florida Derby and being trained by Pletcher. The BCJ winner is only 2 for 39 in the Derby. The 2YO champ is only 3 for 43 since 1980. And we know how Pletcher horses are on big days. Tapit Trice was the 2nd fav last year and didn’t hit the board. Fierceness has all the talent but he’s not a reliable horse to bet on just like his trainer. Sink or swim, feast or famine like War Emblem, Bayern, or a Pletcher horse. Bet Fierceness with plenty of caution. He’s burned a lot of money as the heavy chalk. I look at Sierra Leone similar to Epicenter/Zandon. He’s big and strong like Epicenter. If he doesn’t win it, I still see him hitting the board. Not the same case with Fierceness. He either wins it or he fades badly and won’t hit the board. 1st or 2nd in their final prep SA Derby: Stronghold FL Derby: Fierceness Wood: Resilience AR Derby: Just Steel Blue Grass: Sierra Leone, Just A Touch Lexington: Encino Jeff Ruby: Endlessly LA Derby: Catching Freedom, Honor Marie UAE Derby: Forever Young Updated Rankings 1. Sierra Leone (1st) 2. Fierceness (1st) 3. Resilience (1st) 4. Just Steel (2nd) 5. Stronghold (1st) 6. Endlessly (1st) Toss Forever Young Catching Freedom Honor Marie Just A Touch Epic Ride Dornoch Encino Domestic Product Track Phantom Mystik Dan Deterministic If it’s wet, more money on Fierceness. The two times Pletcher won was on a sloppy track. If it’s dry, more money on Sierra Leone. He’s bigger. He looks stronger. He’s the best closer since Street Sense. I think the 6 horses I listed have names of a Derby winner. Resilience, similar to Justify or Authentic, sounds right to me. But I don’t believe Resilience is particularly fast similar to Stronghold whom he lost to at Churchill in a maiden race. Endlessly is giving me Animal Kingdom vibes. AK looked like a turf/synthetic horse but was training beautifully leading up to the race and won at 25-1. I forgot he’s the son of Leroidesanimaux. I was a big fan of that horse back in ‘05. The Jeff Ruby has produced Rich Strike and Two Phil’s. Tapalo in the SA Derby did not flatter Endlessly’s El Camino win over him. I’m looking at Stronghold’s final times in Horse Racing Nation and I don’t understand why his speed figs are so low? He broke his maiden beating Resilience at 1:35 and change at Churchill. That’s pretty fast at CD and for a 2YO. Didn’t he break the track record in Sunland? He ran 1:42 and change for that Derby. That’s fast. Maybe that’s a good thing? Beyer boys used to love Stronghold’s sire. Gave Ghostzapper a 128 for the Iselin. I saw the hoopla with Flightline but GZ defeated much better competition. I don’t get the low figs for Stronghold. These other preps go 1:50+ and they’re receiving higher figs. Stronghold goes 1:49+ and he gets an 89. D. Wayne Lukas is known to run his horses to the ground. Charismatic ran 7x as a 3YO before he won the Derby. Just Steel has run 4x as a 3YO and 11x overall. Almost twice as long as Justify and Flightline’s career. I don’t necessarily see JS winning it but he’s a good exotics play. He has finished behind the likes of Catching Freedom and Honor Marie. Resilience finished behind Stronghold once but ahead of Track Phantom in a maiden race. Then finished behind Sierra Leone, Track Phantom, and Catching Freedom in the Risen Star. I feel like Catching Freedom, Honor Marie, Stronghold, and Resilience are close to the same level with mid 90s BSFs. Marty Wygod died recently. Maybe Resilience wins the roses in honor of him? I’m favoring Stronghold and Resilience due to their last preps. When was the last time the Louisiana Derby produced the Kentucky Derby winner? Remember Lawyer Ron or Friesan Fire? The Turfway preps have greater success than Fair Grounds. Epicenter used the LA Derby race as his final prep and lost the Derby and Preakness as the chalk. And Epicenter looked more formidable to me than Catching Freedom and Honor Marie. It seems to me Sierra Leone is the best closer of the bunch but he isn’t far and away faster than any of them with a 98 BSF. But he is the most consistent and reliable. Think Zenyatta. A horse with a 19-1 record is pretty darn good and I don’t care if it’s mostly on synthetic. A closer is always at the mercy of the pace. Sierra Leone could be Zandon Part 2 but it would still be foolish to toss him in your tickets. Derby/NBA Parlays Any of my top 6 horses Celtics or Sixers wins East Nuggets or Lakers wins West

They need to give bradley beal the ball more in phx

Minnesoter!

I don’t understand how Gobert winning these defensive player on the year I just don’t see it he’s not a better defender then AD and what big man has he locked down

11:00 where is Mollys airhead at??

Tyyyyrrrreeeese Maaaxxxeeeeeeeeeyyy!!! ❤ Such a good human.

The battle of la never came

Kawhi has normal inflammation from wear and tear from the season in those surgically repaired knees, a knee infection and some slow ramp ups as the swelling goes down is all they’re doing. Of course they wouldn’t rush him back and risk him having to play through pain, but he should be better by Sunday.

Kawhi when healthy is one of the best players in the world, but that Toronto championship he wasn't even 100%, but was the most healthy he has been since 2016 and that says a lot. Don't think anyone is expecting that he will play a full year or contend for another championship ever again at this point.

*Certainly the Raptors' was the ONLY successful Kawhi Diva Load Management arrangement ever. Luckily the moon and stars sweetly aligned which brought them to the very top of the mountain.* Kawhi has yet to help produce a substantial playoff-end result for the Clippers, but hope they do better than the first round this time.

there’s no way you looked at victor wemby’s defensive stats and voted for rudy gobert for dpoy

Ngl I like Tim being on here with SAS & Unc

Minnersoter 😂

Stephen a voted for gobert dpoy is why everyone should not listen to him anymore over wemby is disrespectful why cause team wins well wemby don’t got ant or kat or Jaden or Mike Conley or naiz redd like what are we watching 🤣

Typically Stephen A seeing the negative in a situation the Olympics are after the playoffs for one not to mention why not praise Kawhi for being prideful to play for his country and playing through injury

“I did west” video abruptly ends

Kawhi can play a few mins in the Olympics, he can chill on the bench

best ability is availability. i agree with SAS here. if kawhi gets hurt in Olympics then what?

Joel and kawhi needs to sit down for the Olympics

Legs 🦵you're right ✅... Steven A so so right ✅ about KD... %100 correct about Khawi... If I am Balmer, I am Fining Kawhi Lenard 1 Million per International Game .😂... Molly... Thank You 💯🏀

Stephen A, Kawhi ain’t worried about all that. He play to his ability. Nobody will be forcing this guy to do anything. When he’s healthy he’s a phenomenal player, everyone knows that.

K.D. Steph, Kawhai & LeBron Top 4 Players 🔥💯

What's up with Legler's eyebrows?

Suns mite be ok.They need to play BulBul more

I believe will show he’s ready to ball kawii…. Balling

Can’t believe they had nerlens Noel and okafor on a team with Joel already smh they should’ve paired him with a pg way earlier smh ish smith and tj were his only pgs that could run a pick n roll before harden n now maxey.

SAS IS DANGEROUS