A die-hard New Yorker, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN bleeds blue and orange for his hometown team, the Knicks. He’s a vocal supporter, one of many famous faces cheering them on from the stands of Madison Square Garden.
But Thursday morning came and it saw ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski report that Knicks power forward Julius Randle, who has been out since January rehabbing a shoulder injury, would need surgery and would not be back for the postseason.
Smith heard this news while First Take was on the air and immediately reacted emotionally to it.
An emotional Stephen A. Smith responds to the news that Knicks forward Julius Randle is out for the remainder of the season. pic.twitter.com/Qzm7FaxdWi
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 4, 2024
“You get an opportunity, with Milwaukee looking suspect, Miami looking suspect at times, Joel Embiid injured,” Smith started to say before someone started playing a sad, slow piano song in the background while he was talking, drawing a laugh from the other panelists.
Smith kept pushing through, though. “The Knicks had a chance to get to the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, and then this happens. You can’t make it up, man. Just go.”
When it seemed as though his spirits were lifting shortly later, Smith immediately crashed back down.
Stephen A. Smith is still going through it.
“There’s always something. Something. Damn it!” pic.twitter.com/bSsRBTvbHu
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 4, 2024
“Contrary to what people think, I am a nice guy. I try to do the right thing, I love the lord, and I pray every morning and every night. I give back as best as I possibly can. All I ever ask is just for the Knicks… there’s always something. Something. Damn it!”
Every sports fan has experienced Smith’s exact feeling at some point over the years, but few have had to experience it on national television.
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