ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith was met with loud boos on Thursday, 20 June 2026, before publicly acknowledging that he had been “beyond wrong” in his past assessment of Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks.
Speaking on stage during a live appearance, the longtime Knicks supporter attempted to address the crowd but was drowned out by jeers. Once the noise subsided, Smith admitted that his earlier skepticism about Brunson’s impact on the franchise had missed the mark.
Smith’s mea culpa referenced remarks he made when the Knicks first added Brunson, comments that drew criticism from fans as the guard blossomed into one of the team’s cornerstones. “I was wrong—beyond wrong,” he told the audience, which reacted with a mix of applause and continued heckling.
The exchange underscored the growing appreciation New York fans have for Brunson’s contributions, as well as their willingness to remind prominent critics of past misjudgments.
Source: New York Post
