A February weekend packed with jaw-dropping moments and electrifying performances, spotlighting the best of the best. But are all the top stars really present? That’s a major point of debate. Amid all of this, one name popped up— Kyrie Irving. And out of all people, it was Stephen A. Smith,  who called for his inclusion. Does this mean their feud is officially over?

During the discussion about All-Star snubs on First Take, Stephen A. pointed out, “Another person that we need to mention is Kyrie Irving. Dallas wins when he’s on the court, y’all, and this brother’s been averaging about 24, 25 a game.” The analyst further added, “Kyrie Irving is a showstopper. If ever there was a person that was made for All-Star weekend, it’s Kyrie Irving.”

Smith highlighted how the Slovenian’s absence due to his left calf injury has made Kyrie’s impact undeniable. “Luka’s (Doncic) been hurt, so we got to look at what Kyrie Irving brings to the table, okay, and understand his greatness.” So far, he is averaging 24.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists showing just how crucial he has become for the franchise.

Despite claiming that he and Kyrie would probably never talk again, Smith has given his full support to the 32-year-old. The confession came from Stephen A. last year in April on Earn Your Leisure, where he said, “Kyrie and I probably never speak again in life, and that’s fine, but I ain’t got nothing but respect for the brother.” Stephen A. even went as far as apologizing to Kyrie to put an end to their enmity.

Stephen A. Smith apologizes to Kyrie Irving to heal strained relationship

Stephen A. Smith is known for being outspoken, and he was no different when it came to Kyrie Irving’s refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccination and missing games. His remarks regarding Kyrie commitment to the sport were brutal, and before anyone could realize it, even Kyrie’s father got involved in the situation.

But after Kyrie went through a dark phase, where the media labeled him as the negative character and he lost his deal with Nike over controversial antisemitic posts, Smith extended his apologies. But that didn’t come until his conversation with former NBA star Kenny Smith and Kyrie’s close friend. “It wasn’t until Kenny Smith placed that call to me that I had to look at myself differently,” Smith confessed. “He reminded me of the numerous people that raised Kyrie, who also influenced me. When I talked about Kyrie in the fashion that I did, it wasn’t just a reflection on him, but also on them. When I looked at it that way, it gave me cause to pause.”

Moreover, he said on the Stephen A. Smith Show, “I feel the way that I feel because I pride myself in being man enough to acknowledge when I’m wrong. If I think I’m wrong because, I think it’s rare, but I was wrong, and for Kenny Smith to tell me that, it hit home in a big way because we go back more than 30 years.”

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Since then, the analyst has refrained from making any negative remarks about Kyrie Irving. It’s safe to say that the animosity has ended, at least from Smith’s side, and that chapter is now closed.