Stephen A. Smith says he doesn't need a ring if the New York Knicks win an NBA title.
Excuse us, but... what?!
Did the ESPN commentator really think he was going to get a championship ring from the Knicks?
He doesn't play for the Knicks.
He doesn't work for the Knicks.
He just screams about the Knicks on TV.
And sure, a franchise like the Knicks may hand out a bunch of extra rings to their superfans, just because they can.
But are they going to give one to an ESPN employee? At least one who isn't Mike Breen, who is their local broadcaster during the regular season.
Stephen A. Smith says he doesn’t want a championship ring from the Knicks if they win a title
(h/t @awfulannouncing ) pic.twitter.com/okXQWYTAlN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 8, 2026
Smith draws attention. He gets viewership. He prompted this very article.
But it's pretty lame, for most sports fans, to turn on a major sports show during the NBA Finals and see the main piece of the entire show simply spewing his Knicks fandom.
Believe it or not, that doesn't deserve a ring, so it's a good thing Smith doesn't want one.
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