ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is overjoyed after his beloved New York Knicks won the NBA championship, beating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 on Saturday. While the Knicks and Smith celebrate a historic title win and the franchise’s first in 53 years, former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant seems already irritated by the ongoing celebrations of the host.
Stephen A. Smith’s Knicks Euphoria Clashes With Dez Bryant’s Frustration
Before the NBA Finals even tipped off, Bryant confidently predicted a rough sweep for the Knicks. Though sweeping the Knicks looked almost impossible from the start, Bryant and other Spurs fans at least wanted their favorite team to win with their young players like Victor Wembanyama.
However, Bryant was left heartbroken, as the Knicks secured the title in only five games. His frustration is on another level as he will have to deal with outspoken Knicks supporters like Smith all offseason.
“The fact we have to hear Stephen A Smith mouth for the next year is crazy,” Bryant wrote.
The fact we have to hear Stephen A Smith mouth for the next year is crazy
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) June 14, 2026
Bryant’s fear is real, given Smith’s well-known passion for the Knicks. Smith struggled to contain his excitement after the Game 5 win, admitting he couldn’t even find the right words. On SportsCenter, he reflected on the “many years of misery” Knicks fans had endured before finally reaching this moment.
Smith also posted a video on X showing his immediate reaction in the press room when the final buzzer sounded, simply captioned: “It’s over.” Smith, who was only five years old when the Knicks last won in 1973, made it absolutely clear just how emotional the win was for him.
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The excitement also comes as the Knicks came from behind in four games and reportedly led for just 23.6% of the entire series, the lowest by any champion since the 1971 Finals. Smith even argued that the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, saved the NBA by defeating Wembanyama and the Spurs.
“If San Antonio wins it all, the whole league has to start building around one question: how do you stop the alien, that 7-foot-5 alien from France?” Smith said. “But instead, a 6’1 guard, not the most explosive athlete, not someone playing above the rim, just a smart, crafty basketball mind with elite footwork, ended up leading his team to the title.”
The Knicks’ championship also ended a 52-series playoff title drought for the New York metro area across major U.S. sports leagues. That streak was among the longest ever, trailing only current droughts from Minneapolis–St. Paul and Buffalo. So, it’s indeed a good day for Smith and the whole of New York.
As for Bryant, his beloved Spurs came up short, but he may already be setting his sights on bigger dreams with the Cowboys. After all, 2026 has been a year of long-awaited celebrations, as Arsenal finally lifted the Premier League trophy, and the Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought by winning the title. If this truly is the year of the drought, Cowboys fans like Bryant might be hoping their turn is next, and that a Super Bowl run could help ease the pain of watching the Spurs fall short.
