Overview
- Josh Hart, who spoke Thursday, called Stephen A. Smith a part‑time Knicks fan and told him to “shut the hell up,” saying Smith barely knows the roster.
- Hart’s remark followed Smith’s First Take criticism that told Hart to be quiet and tied Mikal Bridges’ slump to the seven draft assets New York spent to acquire him.
- On Friday, Smith answered with a 15‑minute response and on‑air comments, saying he does not need to know players to analyze them and warning, “you don’t know who I know” and “I get paid to talk about you.”
- Smith broadened his case by pointing to Thursday’s 114‑103 loss to Charlotte, noting the Knicks were outrebounded 43‑24 and that LaMelo Ball and rookie Kon Knueppel topped the New York starting five on the glass.
- Hart has defended Bridges’ season by citing a reduced role, saying fewer plays are called for him and arguing the criticism overlooks what the team asks him to do.