US host slammed for ‘disgusting’ rant mocking Lakers’ Anthony Davis

American sports host Stephen A. Smith has apologised after he was slammed by viewers for a brutal rant mocking a Lakers star.

Stephen A. Smith absoluely tore into AD. Photos: Getty Images.

ESPN sports pundit Stephen A. Smith has apologised for mocking Anthony Davis after the LA Lakers big man reportedly sustained a concussion in the Lakers’ loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of their second round playoff series.

The Lakers were looking to wrap up the series win but the Warriors claimed a 121-106 victory to stay alive and force a Game 6. The Lakers lead the series 3-2.

Davis has been pivotal to the Lakers’ playoff run but was sidelined in the fourth quarter when he copped an accidental elbow to the head by Warriors centre Kevon Looney as they contested a rebound.

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Davis doubled over in pain and clutched his head. He played no further part in the game and was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Anthony Davis did not return to Game 5 after getting hit in the head by Kevon Looney. pic.twitter.com/2bOZ2h9U7q

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 11, 2023

Davis is notoriously injury-prone, and Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley burst into a fit of giggles post-game on Inside The NBA — which viewers interpreted as blatant mocking of Davis.

Anthony Davis is in doubt for the rest of the series. Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Shaq just couldn't contain himself. Photo: Twitter.

Over on ESPN, Smith said there was no doubt O’Neal and Barkley were laughing at Davis leaving the game from an innocuous bump as he roasted the Lakers centre in an all-time rant.

“I’ll be damned if I wasn’t laughing,” Smith began.

“I was like, concussion? Concussion? I thought the NFL season was over. I understand concussions can happen in other sports — boxing, UFC — and I mean if the collision is fierce enough I guess it can happen in basketball too.

“But damn, I ain’t seen nothing that made me say concussion. A wheelchair, really? That’s where we are?”

Smith then joked that it seemed like Davis had been clobbered in an NFL-style tackle.

“I hope Anthony Davis is OK,” he said.

“(But) we’ve got to stop it. It’s the playoffs, man. Damn, did he run and get hit by Ronnie Lott or something. Did I miss something? Is Ray Lewis in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. Did he get hit by Aaron Donald? Did I miss something?

Stephen A. Smith absoluely tore into AD. Photos: Getty Images.

“No one is saying concussions aren’t serious. We’re saying we found it hard to believe a concussion actually happened on that play. I can assure you Shaq and Barkley are still laughing.”

Smith’s rant, and the reaction of O’Neal and Barkley, didn’t go down well with viewers, who accused the pundits of making light of concussion.

This is absolutely disgusting https://t.co/XRY7xNFBRO

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) May 11, 2023

Inside NBA crew should own why they were cracking up laughing during that segment rather than try to evade. You going to go there, don’t be soft about it, just say it out loud. Respect to EJ who was trying to get them to own up to it, too.

— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) May 11, 2023

Smith later apologised, tweeting: “Blow back is Blow back. Comes with the territory, peeps. I was in no way minimising the seriousness of a concussion.

“I was questioning whether Anthony Davis really had one, considering the play I saw & other hits I’ve seen him absorb.

“But, bottom line, it was wrong for me to do. Period! My bad.”

“Obviously everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked on him,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game.

“He seems to be doing really good already. That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.”

Davis has undergone concussions tests but it’s unclear if he will be able to play in Game 6 or Game 7, should the Warriors force a decider.

Originally published as US host slammed for ‘disgusting’ rant mocking Lakers’ Anthony Davis