Stephen A. Smith makes emphatic Knicks NBA Finals prediction after dominant run through East

After punching their ticket to the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks have Stephen A. Smith hyped up, and his prediction will fire up fans.

During the May 26, 2026, edition of First Take, Smith celebrated the Knicks’ dominant run through the Eastern Conference to make it to the Finals. He has no doubt that they’ll win the championship.

“They winning the chip! That’s where I’m going with this,” Smith said before conceding that New York would be the “underdog” against either Western Conference opponent.

“They winning the chip! They winning the chip! That’s where I’m going with this! … We’re going into this Finals with a legitimate shot to capture the world championship.”

—@stephenasmith on the Knicks advancing to the NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/UMcFH7RMf0

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 26, 2026

Smith specifically praised the leadership of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, also giving Mikal Bridges a shoutout for his turnaround in the postseason.

What’s different about the Knicks in the NBA Finals, according to Stephen A. Smith

If the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals (WCF), they would face the Knicks in a rematch from the last time New York made it to the NBA Finals in 1999. New York lost in five games that time around, but Smith doesn’t think that’ll happen again.

“When the New York Knicks went to the Finals in 1999, we were happy that they got there, but we knew they weren’t beating the Spurs. I mean, that’s David Robinson, that’s Tim Duncan, you just knew it wasn’t happening, okay?

“That’s not this feeling. This feeling is that this team can find a way to get it done, and right now, we’re going into this Finals with a legitimate shot to capture the world championship. I’m ecstatic; I think they’ve got the personnel, the style of play to do it, and I’m not ruling out anything,” he continued.

The Knicks have over a week off before the NBA Finals commence. Meanwhile, the WCF has yet to be decided, as the Spurs and Thunder are tied at two apiece.

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