Stephen A. Smith continues to push back against New York Knicks forward Josh Hart’s criticism of him. The “First Take” host said on Friday that Hart doesn’t even know how close he is to the people who are paying the basketball star. Smith added that Hart didn’t do his “homework” when he told Smith to “shut the hell up” on Tuesday.
Smith’s latest comments went viral, prompting CBS reporter Ashley Nicole Moss to react. She called Smith’s statements “nuts.”
Stephen A. Smith didn’t take long to respond:
“Please listen to the entire comment. I said nothing disrespectful at all towards Josh Hart, who I have mad respect for. Don’t take one comment and think that’s all that was said. It wasn’t. I was very complimentary of him. Thanks.”
The brouhaha started on Tuesday when Josh Hart defended his teammate Mikal Bridges from criticism. Smith, on “First Take,” told Hart, “to be quiet.” According to the veteran sports analyst, Bridges deserves criticism because the Knicks gave up seven picks to acquire him. Smith said that those draft picks could have been used to get a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
On Wednesday, Hart called Stephen A. Smith a “part-time Knicks fan,” who “needs to shut the hell up.” Two nights later, Smith told fellow ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins that he found nothing “disrespectful” from Hart, who he conceded only responded to his instigation. Smith continued that he wasn’t taking Hart’s strongly-worded reply “personal,” but the journalist insisted Hart was wrong to defend Bridges.
Fans Slam Stephen A. Smith for Saying He Wasn’t “Disrespectful” to Josh Hart in Latest Comments
Stephen A. Smith’s tweet about not being “disrespectful” after saying he was close to the people who pay Josh Hart went viral. Fans didn’t hold back in reacting to the veteran sports host’s defense of himself. One fan wrote:
“That’s the definition of being disrespectful. F**k you.”
Another fan added:
“Get out this ni**as pockets. TF you even mentioning this mfs paychecks for. Holy s**t.”
One more fan continued:
“You aren’t even a part time Knicks fan. You’re a pier diem Knicks fan. You are an embarrassment to the fan base and community.”
Another fan reacted:
“She did listen, and she was right about the assessment of your tone along with what you said. 100%”
One fan tweeted:
“This egomaniac will double and triple down on being wrong. Take an L, man. And he thinks we want him in politics, too. Straight bum.”
Stephen A. Smith will sometimes concede that he is wrong, while he can also be adamant that he is right most of the time. Following the pushback against his statement about being close to the people who “cut” Hart’s check, it remains to be seen how he will react.
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