ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith took another shot at Kawhi Leonard after the Toronto Raptors star was ruled out due to swelling in his left knee. NBA fans quickly pushed back, defending the two-time Finals MVP and taking aim at Smith himself.

Smith has gone after Leonard before, including in the aftermath of the NBA’s salary-cap circumvention investigation and again when the forward’s trade back to Toronto went through.

Fans Respond to Stephen A. Smith’s Take on Kawhi Leonard’s Knee Injury

Sunday marked the first regular-season game the veteran forward has missed since his return to the franchise he led to its first championship in 2019. On Tuesday, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania that Leonard is expected to miss a period of weeks, though an MRI showed no structural damage.

Smith reacted to the news on Tuesday’s edition of “First Take.” “This is the worst superstar in the history of sports,” Smith said, before going on to criticize Leonard further. “There has been no one better than Kawhi Leonard than getting paid for not working.”

“What were you doing in the offseason to make sure you were ready for this upcoming season? You knew you eventually get you’d traded, you knew you were going to end up in Toronto because you dictated where you wanted to go. You knew all of this stuff and yet here we are. We aren’t even two weeks in and the brother is already getting more time off.”

One fan answered with Leonard’s résumé. “The worst superstar who’s won 2 finals MVPs on two separate teams, but he has bad injury luck. Ok,” they wrote on X.

Another fan made a similar point while taking a swipe at the ESPN star: “Stephen A always hatin on Kawhi.. so lame. Kawhi is a HOFer with 2 rings. Respect him.”

Another fan went after Smith’s credibility rather than defending Leonard’s record. “I can’t believe anyone still listens to Stephen A,” they wrote.

Not everyone took Leonard’s side, though. Another fan wrote, “Not a huge Smith fan but he’s right about Leonard, and I tried to tell y’all this just before the season… Leonard is not what he used to be and is soft.”

Another fan kept it short and criticized Smith, writing, “This dude is such a loser.”

A content creator turned the focus to the history between the analyst and the forward. “What did Kawhi do to Stephen A?!? He really hate that man guts,” they wrote.

Smith also criticized Leonard in September after the NBA wrapped up its investigation into the Clippers. The league found that Leonard and the Clippers broke its rules against circumventing the salary cap, through off-court deals involving companies tied to the team.

Leonard kept his contract and escaped a suspension, though the league ordered him to pay $700,000. The Clippers were fined $30 million and forfeited five first-round picks, and several organizational leaders were suspended, including owner Steve Ballmer, who received a one-year suspension.

Leonard’s trade to Toronto was delayed during the investigation and became official in September. Afterward, Smith said Leonard “got his money and left the country.”

Leonard opened the season with 23 points in 24 minutes in Toronto’s 135-92 win over the Chicago Bulls on October 21, going 11 of 11 at the free-throw line. Two nights later, he added 16 points and eight rebounds on 7-of-20 shooting against the Washington Wizards.

Toronto, now 2-1, hosts the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. The Raptors said Tuesday that Leonard will be reevaluated in one week.