The JR Smith-Sam Dekker Beef is a Bizarre One That Needs More Context
On a podcast over the weekend, Los Angeles Lakers guard J.R. Smith called out Sam Dekker, the former Wisconsin Badgers forward. Smith said that Dekker was the only teammate he didn’t like throughout the years. The guard said that Dekker talked ‘that Trump shit’ and called him out for his privilege. It didn’t appear that Smith and Dekker had a strong relationship when they played together in 2018 for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Smith doubled down when Dekker’s wife, sideline reporter Olivia Harlan criticized him for his comments. The Lakers guard mentioned Dekker used a racial slur. Things have now turned up to 100 with this beef.
JR Smith says there’s only one teammate in his 16-year career he doesn’t like: Sam Dekker
“The privilege he has… he’s a person who’s very aware of somebody else’s circumstances and want to keep them there opposed to try and help them elevate up.”pic.twitter.com/OvyopdKprs
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) October 25, 2020
Would you like to explain why your husband can’t say NI&&@R or should I? I don’t mind at all. https://t.co/bgEZEUE3pm
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) October 27, 2020
We need to hear from Sam himself. Did he say that word on a bus with his teammates? What’s the context of him saying it? The reason I’m asking these questions is this did not become a news story. If Dekker said those words, that is a major story. Look at Riley Cooper. Look at Kyle Larson. Those comments don’t just get lost in the shuffle. They become national news stories. And for good reason, those people are idiots and deserve to get flamed. So why wasn’t this one? Did the Cavs make sure it didn’t become one?
But then there is the other side of this with Dekker’s basketball career. Dekker did get traded nine games into the season to Washington from Cleveland. But that deal was a larger deal for Milwaukee to acquire George Hill, so, it might not have had something to do with Smtih’s accusations. Who knows. Regardless, there feels like more to the story.
Maybe Sam will tell the full story, maybe he will continue on his goal of being a Wisconsin media member someday. Time will tell.