Stephen A. Smith continues war of words with Knicks’ Josh Hart: Check the resume

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith fired back at Knicks forward Josh Hart, who fired back at Stephen A. Round and round it goes, how it ends, well, we probably already know.

Smith responded to comments made by Hart, who called Smith a “part-time fan” for suggesting the Knicks gave up too much in their trade with the Nets for Mikal Bridges. (Smith may be right here, but I digress.)

“I just love how people ignore the resume,” Smith said on his radio show. “Let me say this about myself. So I spent 20 years covering the NBA and I’m on the road and in locker rooms for over 100 games a year. Damn near 120 games a year when you take into account the playoffs and the multitude of locker rooms that I have to go into.

“And because my success on television has me in studio, and I’m not there at the games the way that I used to be. And as a result, I’m not going to know the players the way that I used to know the players. I don’t know sh*t really.

“Well, what about 99% of the sports commentators and pundits on television and radio and on newspapers and dot.com sites and podcasts all over the country, if not the world? Do they have to know you? What did I say about the New York Knicks that requires me to know anybody?

“First of all, you don’t who I know. Secondly, you don’t know who talks to me. Thirdly, you don’t even know how close I am to the people that cut your checks. Josh Hart, clearly you haven’t done your homework.”

My biggest question in all this is who, exactly, asked Hart what he thinks about Smith’s take on the team? And when will someone ask Donovan Mitchell what I sometimes have to say about the Cavaliers?

Anyway, this is the type of back-and-forth that gets Smith clicks, and I’ll be honest, it’s not bad for Hoops Wire, either. 

Meanwhile, Hart and the Knicks are coming off a loss to the rising Hornets and are game back of the Celtics for second in the Eastern Conference. They lead the fourth-place Cavs by 2.5 games.

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