Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart confronted ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith during a live “The Roommates Show” podcast taping at Madison Square Garden after the crowd greeted him with roaring boos. Smith admitted he was “beyond wrong” and apologized to the Knicks or
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart didn’t just invite Stephen A. Smith to Madison Square Garden—they put him on the spot.
The Knicks stars and longtime pals held a live taping of their “The Roommates Show” podcast on Friday at the Infosys Theater at NYC’s Madison Square Garden. Their guest list included co-host Matt Hillman, and one of their surprise guests was Stephen A. Smith. Before he even got going, the crowd let him have it: he was greeted by roaring boos.
That reaction wasn’t random for Smith. Long before Brunson became a Knicks star, Smith publicly questioned his talent during his collegiate days and continued that skepticism after the draft.
During a live broadcast in 2016. Smith said Villanova University “doesn’t have a real NBA prospect on this squad.” At the time. Brunson. Hart. Mikal Bridges. Donte DiVincenzo. and other players who would go on to reach the NBA were all on Villanova’s roster. The program didn’t just produce NBA players—it also won the 2016 NCAA Men’s National Championship.
Smith’s criticism followed Brunson into the pros. After Brunson signed with the Knicks in 2022, Smith kept going, saying, “I’m tired y’all… JALEN BRUNSON ISN’T THE ANSWER. You creating this cap space to get Jalen Brunson? Is he KD? Is he Kawhi Leonard? … You’re selling New York on Jalen Brunson?”
With that history hanging in the air, the moment at MSG turned into a direct confrontation. Brunson and Hart asked Smith onstage whether he could admit he was wrong. Smith didn’t dodge it—he admitted to being “beyond wrong” and apologized to the entire Knicks organization.
The crowd booed him early, but the night ended with an apology—and a clear line drawn from Smith’s old doubts to the Knicks’ moment now.
Jalen Brunson Josh Hart Stephen A. Smith Knicks Madison Square Garden The Roommates Show ESPN Villanova Matt Hillman