Stephen A. Smith has been saying some pretty rough things on the air, and this is a big deal.
The ESPN personality declared himself more famous than “most” players on his beloved New York Knicks while discussing what the team needs to become a true Eastern Conference contender.
“They can't get a star,” Smith, a die-hard Knicks fan, said Wednesday on ESPN's “NBA Countdown.” “You had your chance. This is Mecca, and stars never visit, but we never have stars.
“Did you know there’s a legitimate argument that Stephen A. Smith is one of New York’s biggest stars?
“I'm a bigger star than most of the players on the New York Knicks. That's such a shame.”
The Knicks are 6-8 in their last 14 games and are tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for seventh place in the East with a 19-15 record, but have won two straight since Wednesday's win over the Chicago Bulls.
Smith explained why the Knicks need a player like Cavaliers point guard Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell is a player from New York that the Knicks passed up in a trade in September 2022.
“The New York Knicks have been eliminated in the first round twice in 24 years,” Smith exclaimed. “Again, I had an Afro and my hairline was two feet in front of me.
“When we have the opportunity to get Donovan Mitchell, we understand that he's not the biggest star or anything, but he's a scoring option. Who can say, 'The ball is here?' Take me there.’ And we got our chance. You couldn't even do that, and you're the Knicks. ”
ESPN's Michael Wilbon explained, “The star player isn't going to the Knicks,” and instead “goes to South Florida or Southern California. End of story.”
Some Knicks faithful weren't happy with Smith.
“Stephen A. Smith is the worst Knicks fan on the planet.” User X wrote:.
Another added: “He's pathetic. I wish he would stop pretending to be a Knicks fan.”
Smith's comments come after he angered Knicks fans last month. He called center Isaiah Hartenstein “that guy.” They had to “cope” with watching without Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims, who were both injured at the time.
Hartenstein has been a valuable asset for the Knicks, recording a double-double with 10 points and 20 rebounds in Wednesday's 116-100 win over the Bulls.
It was New York's second straight win in the OG Anunoby era.
The Knicks acquired the NBA champion forward on Dec. 30 in a trade that sent RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors.
The Knicks (19-15) will play the 76ers (23-10) on Friday in Philadelphia.
