ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith savages New York Knicks as ‘national disgrace’

Hopes that the New York Knicks could turn their fortunes around have once again been dashed and one high profile broadcaster has torn them a new one.

Stephen A. Smith has torn the Knicks to shreds. Photo: Getty and Twitter

NBA fans can return to regular viewing — the New York Knicks are officially trash once again.

After the Knicks were the surprise packets of the 2020-21 season, making the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons but despite all the high hopes from long suffering fans, the Knicks have slumped well outside playoff contention once again.

Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >

And Thursday’s (Australian time) clash with the Brooklyn Nets is everything wrong with the team.

The Knicks had a brilliant start, leading by 20 points at the end of the first quarter and 28 points halfway through the second quarter, but an inspired fourth quarter by rookie Cam Thomas helped the Nets come back and win the game 111-106.

And the Nets came into the game without Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.

It was also the third loss after leading by over 20 this month having given up 21 points against the Lakers and 23 against Portland in February.

The Knicks have had a brutal month. Photo: Michelle Farsi/Getty Images/AFP

Thomas scored 16 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, draining a long three-pointer with 7.7 seconds left to push the Nets’ lead to six points and essentially seal the win.

The shot had superstar Kevin Durant, watching from the bench as he continues to recover from a knee injury, on his feet celebrating Thomas.

“I knew it was one-on-one time,” Thomas said. “I just went to my go-to move. “Glad it went in, cause I was struggling tonight,” added the rookie, who had made just two of three shots through the first three quarters but played a key role in a 15-0 fourth-quarter scoring run that saw the Nets take the lead for the first time.

“I went, like one-for-nine, one-for-10 to start,” Thomas said. “I just had to keep playing through it. I’m glad it worked out for us.” Seth Curry — recently arrived in the trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia for Ben Simmons — added 20 points for the Nets. Andre Drummond, acquired in the same deal, pulled down 19 rebounds, the most by a Nets player this season.

It leaves the Knicks 25-34 for the season in 12th in the East and unless something dramatically changes, set to extend the streak since their last NBA championship to a 50th year, having not won since 1973.

After getting his hopes up, ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has finally completely lost it at the team.

Know for his furious and wild rants, Smith delivered an all-time to tear the Knicks to shreds.

Stephen A. Smith went off his nut. Photo: Twitter

“You know, I’ve got a good friend that’s a Knicks fan that just sent me a text message, you know what he said?” Smith began. “He said he praises the lord, tithes, prays every day, he mentors kids, we as Knicks fans deserve better than this. And he’s absolutely right.

“The New York Knicks are a national disgrace. They are horrible. Thibbs, we’re hearing the New York Knicks organisation ain’t too fond of him these days, he might be out. I don’t give a damn if he’s gone tonight.

“Julius Randle, I’m done with him. Leon Rose. We’ve got inmates in state penitentiaries more visible than this man. He’s the president of basketball operations and we can’t find this man.

“They are trash, horrible. No KD, no Kyrie and no Ben Simmons and you lose a 28-point lead courtesy of a rookie by the name of Cam Thomas, who’s decent, probably scored 16 points in the fourth quarter.

“The New York Knicks are trash. Spike Lee shouldn’t even show up for the rest of the season. Tracey Morgan, don’t go. Nobody goes. You’re horrible. I’m so done with this team. You just stink. All the excuses …

“I am officially embarrassed that there is video of me last year talking about New York stand up. I am embarrassed — I’m not finished Jalen.

“I mean this is a disgrace. I owe Jay Williams a Tom Ford suit. I owe Wilbur a dinner, whatever restaurant he wants. God knows what pair of sneakers Jalen going to come up to me about. It’s just horrible. Horrible. I’m done. I wish Knicks fans boycott this team I’m just sick of it.

“You lose to the Oklahoma City Thunder in double overtime, you giving up 20 point leads like it’s going out of style. And then tonight, with KD and Ben Simmons in street clothes, street clothes, doing nothing but high-fiving cats, this team, led by a rookie named Cam Thomas comes back and erases a 28 point deficit. I am done, I don’t want to go to the Garden, I don’t even want to drive by the Garden. I’m sick of this team. I’m done, just done.

The New York Knicks are a national disgrace, Ladies and Gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/4sxpzgWAkC

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) February 17, 2022

Fans were right on board with what Smith had to say.

Host of The Daily Beast Podcast Andy Levy tweeted: “sometimes stephen a goes too far. this is not one of those times”.

US DJ Peter Rosenberg wrote: “This is a moment when @stephenasmith is not overstating anything …”

NESN reporter Zack Cox added: “This is Stephen A.’s Mona Lisa”.

— with AFP

Originally published as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith savages New York Knicks as ‘national disgrace’