Stephen A. Smith was so disgusted by the New York Knicks’ performance against the Detroit Pistons that he walked off the ESPN set during First Take on Friday.
05:55 ET, 21 Feb 2026Updated 12:24 ET, 21 Feb 2026
ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith walkedoff set after the Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks 126-111(Image: ESPN)
ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith transformed a February regular-season New York Knicks defeat into a live television spectacle on Friday so intense that it led him to walk off the set.
Smith accused the Knicks of being “punked” on their home court at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night during an Eastern Conference clash with the Detroit Pistons. Following the Pistons’ dominant 126–111 victory over the Knicks, Smith essentially characterized the defeat as a total humiliation.
“Because Detroit is here,” Smith said. “And by the way, they’re younger, and by the way, they’re ballin’, and by the way, they got size, and athleticism, and tenacity, and they don’t like you. They’re looking at you and like, we don’t like you.” Meanwhile, Smith has doubled down on his scathing criticism of NBA’s ‘biggest thief’.
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Smith portrayed it as a red flag ahead of the playoffs for a third-seed Knicks squad that came into the evening 21-8 at home and departed with its 21st defeat of the season. He went even further and suggested that even players with composed temperaments like Tobias Harris have displayed a level of determination exceeding the Knicks whilst competing at the Garden, reports the Mirror US.
“They got Tobias Harris not liking them. He likes everybody. You understand? I love Tobias, one of the nicest guys,” Smith continued. “But when he goes against the Knicks, forget them. This is what they’re doing.”
Smith’s voice grew increasingly agitated as he reflected on the performance.
“MSG, we’re watching our home team get punked,” he said. “They get punked. That just is not good.”
Moments later, he rose from his seat. McNutt celebrated Smith’s departure as he left the set, exclaiming, “I’m going!” whilst a wide-angle shot captured the remaining analysts continuing without him.
The Pistons defeated the Knicks 126-111
The Pistons maintained a narrow two-point advantage after the opening quarter but used a 7–0 surge to take a 58–48 halftime lead. By the final quarter, they had established a 90–79 advantage and ultimately sealed the victory with a 36-point fourth quarter.
The Pistons improved to 41-13, whilst the Knicks fell to 35-21 despite 33 points from Jalen Brunson and 11 rebounds from Karl-Anthony Towns.
From Smith’s perspective, a championship contender shouldn’t let a visiting squad control a game’s momentum. From the perspective of viewers at home, Smith’s theatrical behavior seemed excessive for a regular-season matchup, particularly for a team that has only suffered eight home defeats this season.
One fan commented, “Stephen A is putting way too much stock in a regular-season game. You think (head coach) Mike Brown cares about that? Thibs never did. He was more focused on getting his team ready for the postseason.”
Another Knicks supporter remarked, “In the words of Run DMC, you talk too much, home boy you never shut up.”
The Knicks defeat unfolded before a celebrity-filled audience, including Russell Wilson and Ciara, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Jon Stewart, and others.