Have you heard that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is a Knicks fan?
The veteran analyst has waxed poetic about his native New York in the past, mostly in miserable circumstances. This Sunday, however, was different.
The Knicks torched the Cavaliers in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, throwing Cleveland into reverse in a 102–93 win. Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell was rendered a non-factor with 11 points, while New York guards Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett combined for 55 points between them.
Smith was predictably ecstatic on NBA Countdown's interstitial segment before Game 4 of the Kings-Warriors series.
The Knicks had @stephenasmith EMOTIONAL following their Game 4 win 😂 pic.twitter.com/64gDLwyaQR
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 23, 2023
"I love everybody," Smith said on the verge of tears. "I love RJ Barrett for showing up again. I love Jalen Brunson for showing up again. I love the Knicks' defense for holding Donovan Mitchell to two points in the second half on 1-for-9 shooting. And I love Tom Thibodeau for benching Julius Randle because that's what needed to happen."
Randle contributed just seven points in 27 minutes, and the Knicks played some of their basketball with him on the pine.
With that, New York moved within a win of its first playoff series victory since 2013, at which point Smith was in just his second year as a permanent First Take panelist.
