With 0 Titles in the Last 50 Years, Die-Hard Knicks Fan Stephen A. Smith Claims to Have “Begged” $176 Million NBA Superstar to Join the NY Franchise

The New York Knicks last won a title in 1973. Led by Walt Frazier, the team had built a strong shooting, defensive, and rebounding squad. They beat a loaded Laker, but since then, such triumphs have disappeared. The team last made an NBA final in the 1993-94 season, losing in seven games to the Rockets in a hotly contested series. After a strong showing in the 90s led by Patrick Ewing, things have been in disarray in the 21st Century.

As the team keeps losing, an emotional Stephen A. Smith is ready to go to any lengths to have his team win a title.

Stephen A. Smith’s heartbeat is incomplete without the Knicks

Born in The Bronx, New York, the ESPN analyst has had his heart with the team for decades. He has blasted the team for coming short repeatedly and was criticized then even during the heyday of Carmelo Anthony. 

NBA fans have enjoyed his Knicks rants. When the subject of the Knicks comes up, the commentator adds many decibels to his volume. In 2019, he famously said, “When the New York Knicks last won the championship, I was five years old. I am 51 now”.

Therefore, after such desperation, it is not a surprise that the analyst tried recruiting Damian Lillard, who has asked out of the Portland Trail Blazers. During the highly anticipated Terence Crawford-Errol Spence fight, he went to persuade the scoring phenom, who was in the third year of his 4-year $176 million contract.

During the Quick Takes section of his ESPN show First Take, the commenter induced laughter by mentioning the incident. He stated, ”Who the hell is going to the Knicks that I have recruited? Nobody. I am begging anybody. I haven’t been able to get anybody.” He added, “I am praying that at least one time it worked”. 

Then the Knicks superfan revealed how he begged the sharpshooter to join the Knicks.

Going to any length to get a championship

He then turned to ex-NFL safety and analyst, Ryan Clark, who was nearby him during the Spence-Crawford fight. He continued, “You are absolutely right. How many years you have been seeing me literally begging? In Vegas, did I not sit ringside, turn around in front of the crowd, and beg Damian Lillard right in front of you? Yes, I did.”

To this Clark replied, “It’s embarrassing” two times.

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However, it doesn’t seem like these words will work on the man desperate for the Knicks to nab a title. With Lillard’s heart only set on the Miami Heat, his pleas are likely going to fall flat.

Would you plead for a superstar like Lillard to join your favorite team? Do share in the comments below.

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