Stephen A. Smith criticizes Mike Breen’s compliments about the Knicks

Leon Rose’s Leadership in Question as Knicks Aim for NBA Finals

Leon Rose has once again steered the Knicks toward a 50-win season, yet his recent commendation from Mike Breen has been criticized by Stephen A. Smith, who labeled it as “blasphemous.”

Following a decisive victory over the Bulls, Breen, speaking on the MSG broadcast, hinted that the mounting expectations for the Knicks might be a bit excessive.

“Many Knicks fans, as well as media and people in the organization, seem to think this season will be seen as a disappointment if the team doesn’t make it to the NBA Finals,” he remarked during the game, which ended with New York winning 136-96.

“While obviously everyone aims for a championship, we should remember where the franchise stood before Rose took over,” Breen added.

Despite the Knicks currently holding the third spot in the Eastern Conference, Smith had strong feelings about Breen’s comments defending Rose.

He started by acknowledging Breen’s reputation as a “Hall of Famer” and a historic voice in sports commentary.

“We value what he does for us at ESPN/ABC. But we can’t ignore this. You know, the New York Knicks have shown improvement but, let’s be real, fans are still hurting. It’s been decades since we won a championship—1973, to be exact,” said Smith.

“We respect what Leon Rose has accomplished. But should we be content just because things have improved a bit?”

Even with the Knicks enjoying a solid record, their chances for a Finals appearance have dimmed lately, especially with key players returning to competing teams like Jayson Tatum on the Celtics and James Harden moving to the Cavs.

Breen pointed out that the Knicks have only missed the playoffs once since Rose took full control in the 2020-21 season—a notable improvement considering the seven seasons of absence that preceded it.

Smith didn’t hold back, remarking on Rose’s high-profile trade for Mikal Bridges, who has struggled with performance, averaging only 11.6 points since the All-Star break.

“Come on, Mike Breen, don’t let him off the hook like that. We need to aim for the Finals; it’s vital for our future. Boston won’t fade away, and Detroit is emerging,” Smith warned.

“I want to respect you, Mike Breen, but we’ll be addressing this scrutiny over your comments soon. Just know I appreciate you,” he concluded.

As the regular season winds down with four games left, the Knicks are vying for a playoff slot, currently holding a narrow lead over the Cavaliers for the third position in the East.