Much has been made about Stephen Curry's most recent foot injury and the role Marcus Smart played in the same. The Golden State Warriors superstar is now looking at a lengthy layoff and some folks have taken out their pitchforks against Smart.

For his part, however, Stephen A. Smith does not agree with the notion that the Celtics guard intentionally tried to hurt Curry on that play. According to the ESPN broadcaster, it's all just part of Marcus Smart's game:

“It wasn't a dirty play,” Smith stated on Thursday's episode of ESPN's First Take program. “I don't believe that. Marcus Smart is a rough rider. He's an elite defensive player. High energy player. He was going after the ball. He didn't intentionally try to hurt Steph Curry.”

Smith then chimed in on Steve Kerr having a go at Smart right after the play. The Warriors coach clearly wasn't happy with Smart's actions and Kerr made sure to let him know about it.

According to Stephen A, though, he believes that Kerr wasn't exactly in the right place to call Marcus Smart out:

“I don't believe that's what Steve Kerr was saying in defense of Steve Kerr,” Smith continued. “What Steve Kerr was saying is that even though you're going all out with your effort, you should want to safeguard a contemporary for the integrity of the game. In other words, you're going out there just don't be as reckless… Marcus Smart doesn't play like that. He plays with reckless abandon. And that play last night was the latest example of it. I don't believe he intentionally hurt Steph Curry at all.”

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Klay Thompson in a Warriors and Magic jersey

Jedd Pagaduan ·

Steph Curry to the Spurs rumors.

Nick Meyer ·

Warriors Klay Thompson after Steve Kerr loss to the Kings in NBA Play-In

Jay Postrado ·

Unfortunately, Curry is now sidelined indefinitely after he was diagnosed with a sprained ligament on his left foot. The Warriors are hopeful that their superstar will be back to start the playoffs, but at the moment, Steph has no firm timetable to return.

Smart himself has already come out to say that it wasn't intentional. The Celtics talisman conceded that he already knows he's going to get tagged as a dirty player because of this play, but at the end of the day, he knows in his heart that he is not.