Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Lakers’ Championship Hopes: ‘Never Seen A Team With Top 3 White Players Win A Ring’

Stephen A. Smith's relationship with the Lakers had been strained over the years, partly because of LeBron James . But now that James is no longer with the Lakers, Smith still has serious concerns about how the Lakers' roster is built to contend for a championship around its new big three: Luka Doncic , Austin Reaves , and Walker Kessler .

The renowned sports analyst recently recorded an episode of his podcast, 'The Stephen A. Smith Show,' and spoke his mind on why he believes the Lakers are far from being championship contenders.

"Right now, Luka is on a roll. He's putting everybody on notice. He's going to be an MVP candidate. There's no doubt he's special," Stephen A. Smith clarified his feelings about Luka Doncic.

"But I've been on the record, and I ain't apologizing for it, by the way, because people thought I was stuttering. I guess I don't stutter that much. I said, 'I've never seen three players, led by three white guys spanning decades, ever lead an NBA team to a championship.'"

"I'm not backing down from that one bit. That's the route the Lakers have gone," Smith said initially on the show during his discussion with Jeff Teague.

"My opinion hasn't changed. We're 12 games into the season, and my opinion hasn't changed about the Los Angeles Lakers. I think the Lakers are a playoff team. I think they're going to get to the second round of the postseason, and then they're going to get humbled and go home."

"Western conference semifinal. That's what I think is going to happen with the Lakers… The way I look at it, I understand where you're coming from, no doubt."

"I would still look at Oklahoma City as being better. I would look at San Antonio as being better. I would look at Denver, in all likelihood. I'm not sleeping on Houston now that they've got VanVleet back."

"And I would also look at Minnesota because Ant-Man will be back by then. You know, you remember Ant-Man, right? Remember that superstar who averages 33 a game? Remember that superstar? You remember that? Remember who that dude is?"

"But it doesn't matter. He'll be back in a couple of months. It'll be good enough for them to get to the postseason, likely as a top-six seed. And as far as I'm concerned, again, the Lakers clearly are looking good right now."

"It's a testament to JJ Redick and his coaching staff and their ability to coach. It's a testament to Luka Doncic and his greatness. I feel it all. I get where you're coming from, but I'm not sold on the Lakers going far."

"I don't mind if they do because that means more time for me in Southern California. I ain't got no problems with it. I ain't rooting against them. I'm just telling you right now, I don't see it happening," he added when talking to a fan on the phone.

Near the end of the show, Smith took another phone call from a spectator who began defending the Lakers and what they're doing this season so far (10-2 record, six-game winning streak). Stephen A. Smith doubled down on his take.

"Luka Doncic is special. Right now, if we were to vote on a league MVP, he would win it. He's averaging 39.3 points a game. Thirty-nine a game. 39, eight, and eight on 49.8% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from three-point range. He has just been that dude."

"Okay, so I think the Lakers are going to be a good team. I think they have an exceptional young coach in JJ Redick and his coaching staff," Smith said in the beginning.

"The new ownership is led by Kushner and Bob Iger. Bob Iger happens to be, in my opinion, the Michael Jordan of sports. He's the greatest executive I've ever known, and he's a mentor and a friend. The bottom line is that I think the Lakers are in good hands, and the future is going to be incredibly bright," he added.

"But with that being said, I do not think they're getting past the second round. I'd be shocked if they did. I am on the record being controversial because I've never seen an NBA team with its top three players being white deliver a championship. It's never happened, and I'm here to tell you I don't think it's going to happen this year."

"The injuries to the Oklahoma City Thunder have not gone unnoticed. Denver is looking a bit worn down, even though Jokic and Murray still lead them. I mean, it's possible. I think Minnesota is a team to be reckoned with, with LaMelo Ball and Ant-Man. You can't ignore them, but Luka has given it to Minnesota in the postseason before, so who knows what the hell's going to happen with that?"

"The Lakers have a chance. I don't think it's going to materialize into a championship… No, I mean, listen, I don't care about it either. I'm just talking about logistics. I'm just talking about the actual facts," Stephen A. Smith explained.

"We've seen the Celtics with McHale and Bird, but you still had Dennis Johnson. You had Bill Russell before that, when you had Cousy and Havlicek and those guys. You could bring up the Lakers, but you still had Elgin Baylor, whether you had Jerry West or anybody else."

"You could bring up the Philadelphia 76ers, but you still had Wilt Chamberlain and ultimately Dr. J. You could bring up the Chicago Bulls. That speaks for itself. You could bring up the Pistons with Laimbeer, but that was Isiah's team."

"You could bring up the San Antonio Spurs, who were led by Duncan and Robinson. You could bring up the later Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. You could bring up the Boston Celtics with KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen."

"You could bring up the Golden State Warriors with the Splash Brothers. You could bring up Cleveland with LeBron. You could bring up Golden State again with KD in the mix. You could bring up whoever the hell you want."

"There has never been, in my lifetime, an NBA team led by its top three players being white that delivered you a championship, when there was an abundance of brothers playing basketball. That hasn't happened, and I'm here to tell you it ain't going to happen. I can't see it coming," Stephen A. Smith said with a quick recap of the league's history.

"I understand that there are people who think otherwise and wish otherwise. The Olympics are coming to LA in 2028. Could you imagine, on the world stage, considering the global, iconic brand that the NBA is, if Luka Doncic somehow managed to win an NBA championship?"

"That would be huge for the league. It would be huge for the Olympics. It would be huge for LA. It would be huge for everything. But it ain't going to happen. I can't see it. Not a team with its top three players being white dudes. I'm sorry."

"I think that's controversial in some people's eyes. It ain't controversial in mine. I'm just telling you how it is. I'm calling it as I see it. I have never in my lifetime seen an NBA team with its top three players being white win a championship. It has never happened, and it ain't going to happen," Stephen A. Smith concluded .

Ultimately, Stephen A. Smith acknowledges the Lakers' impressive start but remains unconvinced they have the roster to win a championship. While Luka Doncic's MVP-level performances and JJ Redick's coaching have impressed him, he believes their shortcomings will become apparent in the playoffs.

With plenty of basketball left to play, the Lakers will have an opportunity to prove Smith wrong and silence their critics. It will be interesting to see if, for the first time in NBA history, a fully white team core wins an NBA championship this season.