This brewing feud between Stephen A. Smith and Josh Hart escalated after Hart criticized Smith’s comments about the New York Knicks’ recent level of performance. Smith, a long-time Knicks fan, defended his loyalty to the team and promoted his extensive experience covering the NBA. He criticized the production of Mikal Bridges, whom the Knicks surrendered a haul to acquire. Hart didn’t like that.
"You don't even know how close I am to the people who cut your checks… I've been a Knicks fan since I was 3, that would happen to be 24 years before you were born."
Stephen A. Smith in response to Josh Hart calling him a "Part-time Knicks fan" 👀pic.twitter.com/rXuzji4z35
Josh Hart Defends Mikal Bridges’ Contract, Stephen A. Smith Claps Back
Smith didn’t care and responded on “First Take”, saying:
“I need Josh Hart to be quiet. … Seven picks. … For a dude who can’t even get you 10 PPG?”
"I need Josh Hart to be quiet. … Seven picks. … For a dude who can't even get you 10 PPG?"@stephenasmith responds to Josh Hart's defense of Mikal Bridges recent play 😳 pic.twitter.com/KZMiNredb3
The back-and-forth included Hart calling Smith a “part-time Knicks fan” and Smith in return questioning Hart’s lack of knowledge about the players and the team.
Smith Sends Message To Josh Hart After Knicks Lose To Houston: “You’re Wetting The Bed”
We thought that situation was chill, but now after a terrible 111-94 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, Smith took another jab at the Villanova product, who does most of the gritty work for the team.
“Message to Josh Hart, do I need to shut the hell up now? …You haven’t won a game since you clapped back at me… every time you go up against somebody that’s relatively respectable, you’re wetting the bed”
Stephen A. sends a message
"Message to Josh Hart, do I need to shut the hell up now? …You haven't won a game since you clapped back at me… every time you go up against somebody that's relatively respectable, you're wetting the bed”
Fans React To Stephen A. Smith vs. Josh Hart Latest
Some fans thought it was underhanded for Smith to turn against his so-called “team” amidst some adversity and then gets into a demeaning verbal altercation with one of the glue guys who plays his heart out every night.
“Nah, this is corny. Josh Hart brings more effort in one possession than Stephen A. has brought to journalism in a decade. The losses are on the rotations, not the tweets,” one enraged fan commented.
“He turned on his team just like Trump do,” another fan quipped on Facebook.
“Stephen A. is the reason why real sports fans watch podcasts instead,” a third user commented.
“Why is bro always beefing with players, ain’t he a Knicks fan as well?” one user commented.
“Stephen A. calling out the only guy on the roster who actually plays 48 minutes of winning basketball is peak comedy. Stick to the scripts, Stephen,” another user commented.
“Josh Hart has more heart in one possession than Stephen A. has had in 20 years of reporting. Leave that man alone,” insisted a third Knicks fan.
Fans Defend Smith’s Criticism of Hart
On the other hand, frustrated Knicks fans don’t feel like a 48-28 record and third seed in the Eastern Conference is living up to preseason expectations. Add them to the haters and Smith’s rant toward Hart and the entire Knicks team had plenty of support.
“Man SAS been in the game longer than Josh Hart has been on this planet. Nothing he said is wrong either,” one fan said on X in defense of ESPN’s $100M man. ”Josh Hart should’ve kept his mouth shut.”
“Everything is a joke to this unserious ass team,” added another disgruntled Knicks fan. “It’s about time somebody said something, and truthfully yall agree. you just hate the messenger.”
“He’s not lying though. Hart’s impact is ‘vibes’ until they play a real contender, then he disappears. Knicks are a first-round exit at this rate. Knicks fans hate it because he’s right. Clapping back on Twitter is easy; winning games against respectable teams is clearly a struggle right now,” another critic quipped.
"…It don't matter what we do…We have to figure it out"
The Knicks have suffered four losses in a row since washing the Wizards 145-113 on March 22. It looks like everybody’s panicking, including self-proclaimed Knicks fan Smith. If they are going to get right entering the playoffs Hart, who has battled nagging injuries this season, will have to be a huge part of it.
