Stephen A. Smith has said a lot wild things on the airwaves, but this takes the cake.
The ESPN personality declared he is more famous than “most” of his beloved New York Knicks while discussing what it will take for the team to become true Eastern Conference contenders.
“They can’t get a star,” Smith, who’s a diehard Knicks fan, said during “NBA Countdown” on ESPN on Wednesday. “You had a chance. This is the mecca and stars come to visit, we never have any.
“Do you realize that there’s a legitimate argument that Stephen A. Smith is one of the big stars in New York?
“I am a bigger star than most of the New York Knicks. That’s a damn shame.”
The Knicks are 6-8 in their last 14 games and tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the seventh spot in the East with their 19-15 record, but have won two straight after Wednesday’s win over the Chicago Bulls.
Smith explained why the Knicks need someone like Cavaliers point guard Donovan Mitchell — a New York native whom the Knicks missed out on a trade for in September 2022.
“The New York Knicks have been out of the first round twice in 24 years,” Smith yelled. “I’mma say it again, I had an afro — hairline was two feet forward.
“When you have an opportunity to get a Donovan Mitchell, I understand that he’s not the biggest star or whatever but he’s a No. 1 scoring option. Give me somebody that I can say, ‘Here’s the ball. Take me there,’ and we got a chance. You couldn’t even do that and you’re the Knicks.”
ESPN’s Michael Wilbon explained that “star players don’t go to the Knicks” and instead “go to south Florida and southern California. End of story.”
Some Knicks faithful weren’t happy with Smith.
“Stephen A Smith is the worst Knicks fan on the face of the earth,” one user on X wrote.
Another added: “He’s miserable and I wish he would Stop pretending to be a Knicks fan.”
Smith’s comments came after he ruffled the feathers of Knicks fans last month when he called center Isaiah Hartenstein “some dude” he had to “deal with” watching in the absence of injured Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims at the time.
Hartenstein has been a valuable asset for the Knicks, and recorded a double-double with 10 points and 20 rebounds in a 116-100 win against the Bulls on Wednesday.
It was New York’s second straight win in the OG Anunoby era.
The Knicks acquired the NBA champion forward in a trade that sent RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 30.
The Knicks (19-15) play the 76ers (23-10) in Philadelphia on Friday.
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