"Ya want a cookie for catching it? Knock yourself out" - Stephen A. Smith reacts to getting called out for his Knicks take
Stephen A. Smith didn't build his media empire on impeccable takes. He is known for dishing out questionable and faulty assertions. However, he recently committed atrocious gaffes.
A self-professed diehard New York Knicks fan, Smith praised the team recently but mentioned Quentin Grimes looking good and Isaiah Hartenstein playing well off the bench. The problem is that the team already traded Grimes to the Toronto Raptors earlier in the season and that Hartenstein has started in his last 46 appearances. Not to mention, he mispronounced the fan favorite's name.
Fans were quick to point out the blunders. And while SAS acknowledged his mistakes, he sent a spiteful message to the internet sleuths.
Stephen A.'s defense
The commentator attributed Grimes' oversight to having had a lot on his mind recently. He also presumably intended to compliment Miles McBride, who has been on a tear for the Knicks in the past weeks. The two-way swingman averaged 17.9 points and 3.7 3-pointers per game in his previous 11 appearances, including a pair of 29-point performances against the Golden State Warriors and Raptors.
Smith didn't provide an explanation for his Hartentsein mistakes. But it's worth noting that anyone who has followed New York basketball knows how important the German-American center has been for the squad this season.
After seeing starting big men Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle go down with injuries, Hartenstein has admirably held down the fort. He has been primarily known for his defense, although he is also good for a double-double every now and then.
SAS is talking up the Knicks
If Smith's errors were indeed just a slip of the tongue, that would be fine. However, if he is unaware of the names on the Knicks' roster, perhaps it's time for him to stop referring to himself as a loyal fan of one of the Association's marquee franchises.
To be fair, he has occasionally talked up NYK this season, even saying that the team is the No. 1 threat to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. Some might disagree and point to the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat as the squad deserving of that tag. However, it can be hard to argue with Smith, considering that New York's defense has been one of the stingiest in this campaign and has a bona fide star in Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks currently sit in third place in the conference, although it is just one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks. So, it's not inconceivable to see them make a deep run in the playoffs. Let's just hope SAS doesn't mix up or butcher the players' names anymore when reporting about the team.
