Stephen A. Smith fired back at Josh Hart after the Knicks guard told him to "shut the hell up," defending his decades-long New York fandom, extensive NBA experience, and close connections to the people who could cut his checks.
Famous ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith responded after New York Knicks guard Josh Hart told him to "shut the hell up."
Josh Hart
Josh Hart
Team: New York Knicks
Position: SG
Age: 31
Height: 196 cm
Weight: 98 kg
Birth place: Maryland, United States of America
Smith went viral this week for his harsh criticism of the Knicks on an episode of First Take. He called out forward Mikal Bridges for not living up to expectations and also mentioned other players on the team, including Hart.
Hart fired back, saying Smith wasn't a true Knicks fan:
"For me, I think Stephen A., as a part-time Knicks fan, needs to shut the hell up," Hart stated. "He barely knows guys that are on the team."
Now, Smith responded with a lengthy defense on his show:
"I just love how people ignore the resume. Let me say this about myself. So I spent 20 years covering the NBA, and I'm on the road and in locker rooms for over 100 games a year. Damn near 120 games a year when you take into account the playoffs and the multitude of locker rooms that I have to go into.
"And because my success on television has me in the studio, I'm not there at the games the way that I used to be. And as a result, I'm not going to know the players the way that I used to know the players. I don't know s**t really.
"Well, what about 99% of the sports commentators and pundits on television and radio and in newspapers and on dot com sites and podcasts all over the country, if not the world? Do they have to know you? What did I say about the New York Knicks that requires me to know anybody?
"First of all, you don't know who I know. Secondly, you don't know who talks to me. Thirdly, you don't even know how close I am to the people that cut your checks. Josh Hart, clearly, you haven't done your homework.
"I have been a Knicks fan since I was 3, that would be 24 years before you were even born."
Smith, 58, is a New York City native and has long been outspoken about his support for the Knicks.
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