At 26-15, the Brooklyn Nets are currently tied with the Miami Heat (as of Friday afternoon) for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Kevin Durant and Co. haven't exactly been dominating the NBA of late, but there's no denying that the return of Kyrie Irving, albeit for road games, has and will continue to have a significant impact on the Nets this season.

For his part, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith just can't get on board with this. According to the outspoken broadcaster, he just cannot support the Nets amid their mid-season change-of-heart with regard to Kyrie Irving and his vaccination status:

“It ain’t good for basketball if the Brooklyn Nets win. Somebody's got to say it so I'm gonna say it,” Smith said. “It's not good for basketball. You got a part-time player, you got players endorsing a part-time player. You got an owner compromising his own principles and going against his initial beliefs, his original beliefs because he's chasing wins.”

Smith's gripe is all about Irving and how the Nets have allowed him to play despite his refusal to get vaccinated. Team owner Joe Tsai received praise when he initially decided to send the All-Star point guard into exile early in the season because of Kyrie's anti-vax stance. However, Tsai has now backtracked on his initial decision as he's now allowed Irving to join the team as a part-time player for road games. As Smith said in his tirade, Tsai has compromised his beliefs now that his team is in need of players (and wins).

“It's not a good thing for you to just be playing games on the road,” Smith continued. “It's not a good thing for you to wait until the playoffs to get a vaccine. It's not good for you to be a part-time player. That sends a bad message. It makes the league look bad.”

I can't say that I disagree with Stephen A. here. He brings up a truly valid point about these developments sending a bad message. The likes of Kevin Durant and James Harden also cannot be spared for their part here as they have continued to “endorse” Irving's return to play.

Smith made it clear, however, that he has nothing against KD and Harden as players. He has the utmost respect for them. However, he just doesn't see himself supporting the Nets amid this current predicament:

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“I think it's pretty close to impossible to root for a team that's doing this kind of stuff or celebrating this kind of non-sense,” he said. “And that's where I stand with it.”

Smith is never once to mince words and he made sure to make his feelings known here. He does not hold back in calling out the Nets for their decision on Kyrie Irving and it is clear that Stephen A. isn't jumping on the Brooklyn hype train anytime soon.