The New York Knicks’ NBA Finals drought will continue.
Despite a heroic effort, the Indiana Pacers proved too strong and will compete against the red-hot favorite Oklahoma City Thunder for the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Knicks fans were fuming after Porzingis was draftedGettyLed by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks made the Conference Finals for the first time since a 4-2 defeat to the Pacers 25 years ago.
New York has not made the Finals since 1999 and the franchise’s last title came in 1973.
Knicks fans have been through it over the years and Stephen A. Smith, in particular, is fond of letting the world know.
Back in 2015, he went on a now-infamous rant after his team drafted Kristaps Porzingis fifth overall.
Porzingis came out of Real Betis in Spain as a 7ft 1in, 230lb power forward.
The 19-year-old Latvian had undeniable talent but was viewed as a project by many scouts.
Smith was not pleased.
“Let me be very, very clear,” the ESPN personality told SportsCenter. “The kid [Porzingis] is talented and in three to five years, he may very well be big-time.
“But this is about now. Because when you look at the fact that Phil Jackson picked this individual, you’re talking about a project.
“Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks passed up on four dudes who are NBA-ready now.
Smith tore into the Knicks but was forced to eat his words Porzingis was the final piece in the puzzle for the CelticsGettyView Tweet: t.co/g0K8U29sbF
“And why did you do this? You did this because of some dude who may or may not be ready in two years?”
“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. That is the situation.”
Porzingis, first-overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns and No.2 selection D’Angelo Russell were the only players from the class to make an All-Star Game in their first five seasons in the NBA.
Late bloomer Devin Booker, who went to the Phoenix Suns with the 13th pick, is now a four-time All-Star and made the All-NBA First Team in 2002.
Booker has turned out to be a steal but it is hard to argue that the Knicks nailed the pick.
Aside from the Suns standout, only Towns and Russell have made the All-Star game from the class and both were already off the board.
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After Porzingis made an immediate impact in New York, Smith did quickly change his tune and got behind the European giant.
The Latvian tore his ACL in 2018, which led to the Knicks turning down his rookie extension.
He ended up with the Dallas Mavericks in a shock trade and made his playoff debut in 2020.
The Boston Celtics brought him on board via a trade with the Washington Wizards in 2023 and were rewarded with a championship by the end of the season.
Boston was expected to provide the biggest challenge to the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA Finals showdown.
But the Knicks triumphed 4-2 in the Conference Semifinals with Porzingis struggling with injury.
The big man is due $30.7 million next season, leading to speculation he could be traded in a bid to reduce an expensive roster.
But Celtics icon Kevin Garnett insists the injury-prone star is worth keeping hold of.
“Man, you got to bring Porzingis back,” Garnett said on his KG Certified podcast. “Porzingis makes it all unguardable.
“When Porzingis is in there and everybody is healthy, this year they weren’t healthy at all.”
The Knicks look in better shape than they have for years to make a charge next season with Brunson emerging as one of the league’s best.
With no first-round pick, another Smith draft meltdown is unlikely, but if the $20 million-a-year man spies an opportunity, he will take it.
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