Not even Stephen A. Smith is touching this one.
The ESPN host responded to apparent social media criticism from fans over him not discussing the accusations around Thunder star Josh Giddey.
Photos of Giddey with a girl were posted last Wednesday night to social media — and since deleted — with claims that she was underage.
The NBA is investigating the allegations.
Smith is waiting for what the NBA turns up or further reporting before he gives his tackle the topic.
“Let me say this to all y’all on the market who’ve been clamoring for me to the touch on this subject — y’all are getting on my last rattling nerves,” Smith said about 20 minutes into the “Stephen A. Smith Show” on Nov. 27.
“Could you are attempting to be responsible? Could you are attempting? That’s all I’m asking. What do you wish Stephen A. to say? ‘Where you at Stephen A? If this was a brother …’ Wait a minute — if it were a brother I might have treated it with the identical level of sensitivity. This man Josh Giddey is currently being investigated by the National Basketball Association — the NBA — over allegations that he was having a relationship with a minor. We don’t know who she was, we don’t understand how old she was — he’s 21, we don’t understand how old she is. We don’t know anything. We all know there’s an investigation happening. That’s all we all know. We don’t know the rest.”
Smith is understood to the touch on more salacious subjects on his YouTube program, but is holding back on the Giddey situation.
The 21-year-old Australian guard refused comment when asked in regards to the subject last Friday.
He continues to play for the Thunder with the investigation ongoing.
“You already know why Stephen A. hasn’t said anything? Because you could possibly get sued, idiots,” Smith said. “You don’t just go on the market running your rattling mouth over something this serious.
“A fight that went on on a basketball court? Sure. Allegations where the alleged victim was identified? Sure. Where the specification of the crime is illuminated? Sure. But this clamoring to comment on something with no information, no definitive facts — you’ll be able to’t do it.
“You may do it on social media along with your troll-ass selves. You may do it then since you don’t have any real accountability. Why don’t you are attempting using your social media account? And go into Josh Giddey and flat out accuse him, make it some extent of fact — be certain you utilize your name and address, too — because he can probably sue you.
“You’ve to attend and see. We don’t have all the data. We don’t even have the precise allegations, when it comes to its depth.
“Again, we don’t understand how old she is. Whenever you say a minor, what do you mean? Are we talking 16? Are we talking 14? Are we talking 12? Is she 17 about to show 18 in a month and now has parents which can be pissed off because she is with an NBA player? We don’t know.”
“There’s a complete bunch of things happening. I don’t know, I don’t have any clue. If I had a clue, I might have spoken on it, but I don’t and it’s why I haven’t said anything. My advice to you all is to shut the hell up and do the identical. The investigation’s ongoing. We’re going to search out out something. After we discover more information, we’ll speak on it.”