‘Kick Rocks!’ Stephen A. Smith Fires Back at Critics Who Accused Him and ESPN of Being Unprofessional with Wildly Pro-Knicks Broadcast

Stephen A. Smith was unfazed by the backlash ESPN received for focusing its playoff coverage entirely on the Knicks when they played the Pacers.

Ahead of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup between the teams, ESPN showed Smith walking into Madison Square Garden during a compilation of star players doing the same. Then, Smith – while doing a segment on the court before the game – brought director Spike Lee on camera and the two gave an impassioned pep talk directed at the New York Knicks.

The way ESPN handled its coverage did not go over well, with countless viewers expressing their displeasure online. Dan Patrick even said he was “embarrassed” for the network and accused them of having an “East Coast bias.”

On Wednesday’s episode of First Take, even Chris “Mad Dog” Russo called Smith out for it. In response, Smith told his critics to “kick rocks.”

“Don’t sound like one of those pathetic critics,” Smith said. “Listen, y’all don’t say anything when I’m hating on the Cowboys. Why the hell are you gonna get on me for loving the New York Knicks – which I’ve been a die-hard fan of all my life? They can kick rocks! They can kick rocks!”

Watch above via ESPN