Haunted By 25 Years of Pain, Stephen A Smith Declares Jalen Brunson As “Incredibly Selfish”

Renowned sports analyst Stephen A. Smith did not hold back in a fiery segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” breaking down the New York Knicks‘ recent 106-112 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers last night in Game 5 of Round 1. The Knicks are currently in a 3-2 lead. According to Smith, Point Guard Jalen Brunson is to be held responsible for his team’s loss.

A Knicks fan himself, Smith’s comments about the match were emotionally charged. He critiqued Brunson for his lack of judgment as a point guard and his ‘selfish’ attitude towards teammates. Here’s what Smith said.

Jalen Brunson forgot he had teammates, says Smith

In the episode, Stephen A. Smith did not mince his words; “Jalen Brunson, what the hell were you doing in overtime? He forgot he was a point guard, he forgot he had teammates. He didn’t pass the ball at all, and then when he decided to pass the ball, it was a turnover.” The reporter was enraged at Brunson’s performance.

His frustration deepened as he continued; he acknowledged Brunson’s undeniable talent and contribution to the team but felt that his performance disappointed in the most crucial moments of the game. “I understand you’re scoring, how effective you’ve been, what a superstar you’ve been for this team this year, and we appreciate you. But in overtime, he forgot all the things that made him great.” In a shocking statement, he further added, “He looked incredibly selfish and wasn’t looking to pass the ball.”

For the 40 points he scored, Brunson only had 6 assists. As a point guard, it was Jalen Brunson’s responsibility to create windows for his teammates to be able to score in. Smith’s feelings are completely valid, this was an important opportunity for the Knicks.

25 years of waiting for the New York Knicks

The last time the Knicks advanced to the finals at Madison Square Garden, their home ground, was in 1999, 25 years ago, when they won against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks were so close to making history again but in a shocking turn of events, they lost their six-point lead on the Sixers in all but 20 seconds.

Disheartened, Smith regretted the opportunity that the Knicks had wasted tonight, saying, “It’s been 25 years.” Much like everyone else, he could not believe how quickly the team lost the plot. “I mean, I’m sorry, you got a six-point lead with 28 seconds left and you can’t hold on to that,” he looked extremely upset.

As the team deals with this bitter defeat, the Knicks’ performance has shocked not only fans but also analysts. Game 6 is set to take place on Thursday, May 2, at 9 pm EST at Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia.