Stephen A. Smith apologizes to Brunson: “He proved me wrong, I was wrong”

Some victories bring more than a championship ring. They also grant the right to settle scores with everyone who spent years questioning you. Jalen Brunson understands that perfectly.

Fresh off the championship that ended the New York Knicks’ 53-year title drought, the NBA Finals MVP appeared on First Take for what was expected to be a standard media victory lap. Instead, it became a masterclass in memory and accountability, as Brunson delivered a cold reminder to ESPN’s most recognizable voice, Stephen A. Smith, that leadership is built on results.

Fully aware of the historical significance of the moment, Smith – a lifelong Knicks fan – opened the segment with a public apology on national television, attempting to make amends for the skepticism he had shown ever since Brunson left Dallas.

Let me confess something in prime time. Nobody trolls me better than you do. Last year, after you beat Boston, Jalen walked up to me on the court, looked me dead in the face and said, ‘I’m not going to say a single thing to you,’ and then walked away. He does that because he remembers perfectly well that I doubted him all the way back to Villanova

Stephen A. Smith

The veteran NBA analyst then went even deeper.

When he was in Dallas and signed with the Knicks in 2022, I said, ‘Okay, he can play, but we’re giving him four years? Who is he, Kevin Durant? What the hell are we doing?’ National television owes this man an apology. I’m grateful for what you’ve done for this city, and you’ll never hear another ounce of doubt from me, brother. You’re a champion

Stephen A. Smith

Brunson’s response was brief, icy, and revealing.

We’ll see… but thank you

Jalen Brunson

The point guard’s cold reaction was hardly accidental. During this postseason alone, Smith criticized the Knicks on several major occasions.

Before the playoffs began, he claimed Brunson would be the primary reason for New York’s failure. Then, after the Knicks fell behind 2-1 against the Hawks in the first round, he became involved in a heated social media exchange with Josh Hart, who publicly labeled him a “part-time fan”. Later, after taking credit for the team’s 13-game winning streak, Smith went as far as calling Brunson “selfish” following New York’s Game 3 loss to the Spurs in the Finals.

The numbers Brunson posted against San Antonio – 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42.1% from the field – completely dismantled that narrative. The former Maverick kept every receipt from his critics, and he appears in no rush to offer any friendly discounts.

A telling moment came near the end of the show, when the conversation shifted to the idea of giving commemorative championship rings to famous Knicks fans. Smith quickly removed himself from the discussion, acknowledging that someone like Spike Lee would be far more deserving. Then again, considering the elephant-like memory of the Brunson-Hart duo, that extra championship ring probably was never going to end up on Stephen A. Smith’s finger anyway.