Stephen A. Smith Says Carmelo Anthony's 'Ridiculous Comment' Nearly Made Him Cry

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith revealed on Wednesday morning’s 'First Take' that he was nearly moved to tears by Carmelo Anthony’s comment about not trading his Olympic gold medals for an NBA championship.

"I almost cried when I heard that Carmelo said that," Smith said. "That is maybe the most ridiculous comment I've ever heard come out of his mouth."

Anthony recently explained on ' BasketNews' why he wouldn't exchange any of his three gold medals for an NBA title. He suggested that winning for one's country holds greater significance than winning for a city or state.

"Winning a gold medal, it's the passion, it's the pride, that you have not just for a city, or a state, but for a whole nation, a whole country you're winning for," Anthony said.

It’s not surprising that Anthony cherishes his Olympic medals deeply.

He delivered consistently strong performances for Team USA during his four stints, ranking third all-time in Olympic points (336) behind LeBron James (358 points) and Kevin Durant (518).

Anthony also holds the record for the most points scored in a Team USA game, with 37 against Nigeria in 2012.

He emphasized that representing Team USA carries a different emotional weight compared to wearing an NBA jersey.

“It’s a totally different feeling than when you’re wearing Knicks, New York across your chest,” he added.

Smith clearly disagrees with Anthony’s perspective. "I couldn’t believe he said something so utterly ridiculous," Smith remarked.

While Anthony’s Olympic achievements and national pride are undeniable, Smith’s reaction highlights their differing views on which is more important.

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