Stephen A. Smith wasn’t just wrong about Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
“I’m a grown-ass man,” Smith said. “I was beyond wrong.”
Appearing as a guest on a live episode of “The Roommates Show” podcast with NBA champion teammates Brunson and Josh Hart at Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, Smith ate his humble pie after Hart brought receipts about all the times Smith doubted Brunson.
Including opining that the 2016 Villanova national title team didn’t have a legitimate NBA prospect, when Brunson, Hart and Mikal Bridges – three Knicks starters – were on the roster.
And that Brunson “isn’t the answer” – and, worse, no Kevin Durant – for the Knicks after he signed his free-agent contract in 2022.
“We are now sitting here with this golden trophy there to your right,” Hart, who pushed for Smith to be a guest on the podcast. “Can you sit here and admit you were wrong?”
“Apologize!” Brunson demanded.
Smith, an ESPN analyst and lifelong Knicks fan, admitted he was wrong after playfully pretending he did not understand the request.
Hart and Smith had a feud earlier this year when Smith criticized Bridges and Hart jumped to his defense. “I apologize to this brother (Brunson) on national television, I’m apologizing to you (Hart), I’m apologizing to the entire Knicks organization,” Smith said. “But let me be very, very clear: I have never been more happy to be wrong in my entire life.”
The crowd booed Smith anyway.
Brunson has teased firing back at his critics multiple times since leading the Knicks to the title last weekend but stopped just short. He applauded Smith’s apology.
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Smith also flirted with taking some credit for his words firing up the Knicks for their 13-game playoff winning streak.
“I’ll apologize for being wrong,” Smith said, “but let me be very clear: If it means another championship, I’d do it again.”