


The Knicks seemed to hear things loud and clear from one of ESPN’s most prominent voices.
After the Knicks’ commanding win Friday night over the 76ers, guard Evan Fournier took to X and seemingly took a shot at “First Take” personality Stephen A. Smith over his opinions of the team, including big man Isaiah Hartenstein.
On Christmas Day, Smith, appearing on the ESPN roundtable before the Knicks’ win over the Bucks, lamented the fact that he had to watch Hartenstein on the court.
We all know that how I feel about my Knicks, but the 26th in defensive efficiency rating, Mitchell Robinson is out, Jericho Sims is out,” he said at the time, which was before the Knicks’ blockbuster trade for OG Anunoby.
“So I gotta deal with some dude named Hartenstein.”
The boisterous ESPN voice did add that the 7-footer has given a strong effort and that he wasn’t attempting to be “disrespectful.”
Nevertheless, it seems like the Knicks might’ve taken the comment to heart.
“Some dude named Hartenstein,” Fournier wrote on X after the Knicks’ latest win, in which Hartenstein scored a season-high 17 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists in the rout of Philadelphia.
In a 3-0 January for the Knicks, Hartenstein has stepped up with 8.5 points and 4.0 blocks per night.
128-92 blowout win. AP
For what it’s worth, Smith posted on X on Friday night that he’s getting amped about the Knicks again, but some fans weren’t hearing it.
“Either apologize to Isaiah Hartenstein or shut up,” wrote one user in the replies.
“Bandwagon,” wrote another succinctly.
After Hartenstein’s gem Friday night, maybe Smith will be changing his tune.