Kristaps Porzingis’ exceptional performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals inspired fans to revisit Stephen A. Smith’s rant from the 2015 draft.
After the New York Knicks selected Porzingis with the No. 4 pick in the 2015 draft, Smith nearly lost his mind while on “SportsCenter.”
Not only did Smith list players he preferred over Porzingis, he said the Knicks “bamboozled” their fan base.
“Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks passed up on four dudes who are NBA-ready now,” Smith said. “You got Willie Cauley-Stein, you passed up on him. You got Justice Winslow, who I think is the steal of the draft, you passed up on him. Stanley Robinson out of Arizona, you passed up on him.
“New York Knick fans were at the Barclays Center booing because we recognize that we have been hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amuck, and flat out deceived by Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks”
The video of this rant resurfaced on social media Thursday night.
Stephen A Smith’s Porzingis draft rant pic.twitter.com/MA6RC0hc8C
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) June 7, 2024
After scoring 20 points for the Boston Celtics on Thursday night, Porzingis had a message for his doubters.
“Tonight was affirmation to myself that I’m pretty good,” Porzingis said. “I’m not perfect but I can play like this and I can add to this team.”
It’s safe to say Porzingis turned out to be a much better player than Cauley-Stein, Johnson and Winslow.