Stephen A. Smith criticized the New York Knicks despite their comeback win over the Warriors, saying the team is not built to win a championship. He also pointed the blame at Jalen Brunson while discussing the trade for Mikal Bridges.
Stephen A. Smith did not hold back while discussing the current situation around the New York Knicks, even after their comeback win over the Golden State Warriors.
New York Knicks / Schedule
New York rallied from a 21-point deficit to secure a 110-107 victory, with Jalen Brunson leading the way with 30 points and 9 assists. While the result kept the Knicks among the top teams in the Eastern Conference, Smith made it clear he is far from convinced about the teams' championship chances.
"I'm sick, and it's not just because of the dental procedure that I had Friday," he said on ESPN's First Take. "It's because I'm sick with my New York Knicks. I'm depressed, and I'm not gonna get over it anytime soon. The Knicks ain't winning a damn thing."
Part of the concern comes from the recent struggles of Mikal Bridges. Since the All-Star break, the forward has gone through a rough stretch. Over his last six games, Bridges scored only 39 total points while averaging 6.5 points per game.
However, Smith pointed the finger elsewhere when explaining who he believes is responsible for the situation.
"This is where I break news," he added. "The person I'm blaming most for all of this is Jalen Brunson."
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Smith argued that Brunson's contract decision in 2024 helped shape the roster move that brought Bridges to New York. The Knicks guard signed a four-year, 156.5 million dollar extension, reportedly taking around 113 million dollars less than the maximum deal he could have secured later.
Smith believes that price could hurt the team long-term.
"You can't let your organization give up that much to get a dude that's gonna ultimately handicap you from building a roster that can compete for a championship," he concluded.
Despite the criticism, the Knicks continue to perform well in the standings. New York currently owns a 44-25 record and remains in the race for the top spot in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.