Knicks guard Josh Hart used his championship platform to settle old scores, calling out Victor Wembanyama’s emotional reaction and forcing Stephen A. Smith to eat his words on Jalen Brunson.
Josh Hart didn’t just win an NBA title—he used the moment to settle scores. On a live podcast hours after the Knicks clinched the championship, the New York guard unloaded on rivals and critics alike. First up: Victor Wembanyama.
Hart dismissed the Spurs star’s emotional Western Conference finals celebration as evidence of a flawed mentality, arguing Wembanyama’s tearful reaction to beating Oklahoma City revealed the Spurs believed their work was finished. The contrast was deliberate: where San Antonio’s starlet wore his heart on his sleeve, the Knicks reacted with surgical precision en route to their first title in over two decades. Hart didn’t stop with Wembanyama.
He turned to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, forcing the analyst to walk back past criticism of Jalen Brunson. Smith, live on air, issued a public apology for doubting Brunson’s franchise cornerstone status—a moment Hart leveraged to reinforce the Knicks’ locker-room chemistry and collective resolve.
The message was clear: the Knicks’ championship wasn’t just earned on the court, but forged in the fire of perceived disrespect. The reactions were immediate. Knicks fans celebrated Hart’s unfiltered take as vindication for a season built on proving doubters wrong.
Analysts parsed the psychology behind the callouts, framing them as a strategic flex to intimidate future opponents. Even rivals had to acknowledge the audacity: a champion dictating the narrative before the confetti settled. What’s next: Hart’s comments set the tone for the Knicks’ offseason.
With the championship glow still fresh, the team now faces the challenge of maintaining that edge without the chip on its shoulder. Expect rivals to study the playbook—and for Hart to keep sharpening the blade. Read at NewsAPI.org
Championship teams remember the slights that fueled their run. Hart’s post-title callouts crystallized the Knicks’ business-like mentality while exposing the emotional fragility of rivals like the Spurs. It wasn’t just about winning—it was about proving who had the right mindset to stay on top.
NewsAPI.orgsi.comBy Kristen Wong20 Jun, 15:46en
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