TNT sports commentator Kenny Smith stood by his recent comments about WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu during the NBA's All-Star weekend. While appearing on The Stephen A. Smith Show on Monday, Smith clarified that his remarks were not meant to criticize the athlete but rather to advocate for her. He emphasized that he was highlighting the impact of muscle memory in shooting accuracy, using Stephen Curry's shooting range as an example.

Smith's comments came following a friendly one-on-one shootout between Ionescu and Curry, where the Golden State Warriors star emerged victorious by 3 points. Despite Ionescu's close loss, Smith suggested that she should have shot from the WNBA 3-point line to level the playing field against Curry.

His co-commentator Reggie Miller questioned Smith's suggestion, prompting a discussion on setting boundaries in sports based on gender. Smith defended his stance, referencing the differences in equipment sizes in sports like golf and emphasizing the importance of muscle memory in shooting accuracy.

The debate sparked criticism on social media, with even NBA star Joel Embiid chiming in with a light-hearted comment. Despite the backlash, Smith maintained his support for Ionescu, reiterating that his intention was to advocate for her and highlight the nuances of shooting accuracy in basketball.