The Toronto Raptors recently learned that superstar Kawhi Leonard would be out of the lineup for weeks due to an ongoing knee issue. The news comes just days into the 2026-27 NBA season, which the Raptors have started with a record of 2-1.

Now, ESPN sports media personality Stephen A. Smith has dropped his immediate reaction to the tough injury update.

“This is the worst superstar in the history of sports… He should give masterclasses on how to get paid without working,” said Smith, per First Take on X, formerly Twitter.

Smith has long been a critic of Leonard's dating back to his days with the Los Angeles Clippers, and was among the many who felt that Leonard got off way too easy for his role in Los Angeles' salary cap circumvention scandal, for which the Clippers were punished heavily this past offseason.

Injuries were always going to be a major concern for Leonard during his second stint with the Raptors. Although Leonard enjoyed a relatively healthy season last year for the Clippers, he has still been a huge injury risk for the better part of a decade now, and that has come to pass much earlier in the season than fans in Toronto were likely bargaining for.

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Still, this is a pretty deep Raptors team with several elite defenders, and the squad should at least be able to take care of business against lesser opponents during the time that Leonard is away.

In any case, the Raptors are next slated to hit the floor on Wednesday evening for a home game vs the Orlando Magic.