Stephen A. Smith said on his eponymous podcast that he regrets his remarks on Kyrie Irving, who was a staunch critic of the leagues COVID protocols nearly six years ago.During Irvings controversial standoff with the Brooklyn Nets, where the NBA star was only allowed to play home games because he didnt want to get vaccinated, Smith was among those who criticized Irving, calling him the culprit behind the teams dented championship aspirations at the time.Kyrie Irving did nobody wrong. We did him wrong. I did him wrong. And for that, Im sincerely sorry, Smith stated. I just thought it was important to say that I need to do better. Im not alone, but Im responsible for me. I need to do better. And I will.MORE:Kyrie Irving update will excite Dallas Mavericks fansDuring his soliloquy, Smith shared his thoughts on former public health official Dr. Anthony Fauci, who repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during his Senate hearing. For the ESPN analyst, this has created grounds for suspicion.What happened during Kyrie Irvings COVID-related standoff with the Brooklyn NetsKyrie Irving was among those who refused to receive the COVID vaccine at the height of the pandemic in 2021. Because of New York Citys vaccine mandate at the time, the one-time NBA champion was not allowed to practice or play with the Brooklyn Nets.Irving explained that not taking the vaccine was his personal choice, and that hes neither pro nor anti-vaccine. He went so far as to call the mandate one of the biggest violations of human rights in history.The Nets, who remain in a rebuilding phase, never reached their potential with Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, as the star trio played only 16 games together. Irving was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, having reached the NBA Finals in 2024.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter