Stephen A. Smith Changes Stance on Kawhi Leonard After “Gangster” Label Sparks Pushback

Stephen A. Smith has retracted his use of the word "gangster" to describe Kawhi Leonard following pushback from his inner circle. Speaking on his YouTube show, Smith confirmed he would refrain from using the term moving forward, acknowledging concerns over the negative connotations of the label. However, Smith stated that his underlying criticism of Leonard's business conduct remains intact.

The controversy followed NBA penalties against the Los Angeles Clippers for salary cap circumvention, including a $30 million fine, loss of five first-round picks, and suspensions for Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, and Lawrence Frank. Leonard was ordered to pay $700,000 in restitution and was subsequently traded back to the Toronto Raptors.