NBA fans are teeing off on ESPN’s Brian Windhorst over his hot take on the Boston Celtics-New York Knicks series following Jayson Tatum’s horrendous season-ending injury.
The defending NBA champions entered their second-round series as a giant favorite against the third-seeded Knicks. Jalen Brunson and company stunned Boston by taking Games 1, 2 and 4, however, and now they’re the overwhelming favorites to win the series after Tatum suffered an Achilles tear that ended his season.
Tom Thibodeau’s resilient Knicks erased 20-point deficits in Games 1 and 2, and then reallied from 14 points down to win Game 4. And yet, Brian Windhorst isn’t ready to give up on the C’s without their franchise star.
Speaking on ESPN, Windhorst said he’s not ready to hand the series to New York, noting that Boston went 8-2 this season in games that Tatum missed.
“I believe that they will rally back from this. What I’ve learned with the Celtics over the last four years of being there a lot in the playoffs is they lose when you think they’re gonna win and they win you think they’re gonna lose.”
"First off, I am not giving this series to the Knicks just yet."@WindhorstESPN says he's not counting the Celtics out 💪 pic.twitter.com/fHrxIXngIM
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 13, 2025
NBA fans wasted no time ripping on Brian Windhorst over his controversial take, with many accusing him of having a bias against the Knicks.
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“Tell him to put up the pink slip for his seat on that panel if he’s so confident,” one fan wrote.
Tell him to put up the pink slip for his seat on that panel if he’s so confident
— Tin_Man (@TinMan__X) May 13, 2025
“@WindhorstESPN is an absolute embarrassment to ESPN and his colleagues. It’s time for him to cover another sport,” said another.
@WindhorstESPN is an absolute embarrassment to ESPN and his colleagues. It’s time for him to cover another sport.
— DJ_Ralph_V (@Wrestle_4_Real) May 13, 2025
“Such a Knicks hater,” a fan said.
Such a Knicks hater.
— Max (@mbp305) May 13, 2025
“Knicks could be up 4-1 and he’d still think the Celtics have a shot to win,” wrote another.
Knicks could be up 4-1 and he’d still think the Celtics have a shot to win
— Joe Addeo (@etownsbrvst433) May 14, 2025
“Windhorst was praising the lakers all year when in reality they just another 1st round exit,” quipped a user.
Windhorst was praising the lakers all year when in reality they just another 1st round exit
— Spaces NBA (@SpacesNBA) May 13, 2025
“guy must be on the payroll at this point,” a fan remarked.
guy must be on the payroll at this point
— AiRev (Villain Arc) (@ParallelAiRev) May 13, 2025
In basketball, it’s awfully rare for a team to survive and win a championship when their best player suffers a season-ending injury. Look at the Celtics without Kevin Garnett in 2009, the Chicago Bulls without Derrick Rose in 2012 or the Golden State Warriors without Kevin Durant in 2019.
But if the Celtics can do the unthinkable and come back from a 3-1 deficit without Tatum Windhorst will look like an absolute genius.
Brian Windhorst’s Faith In Celtics Is Understandable
It’s easy for unhappy fans to accuse Windhorst of hating the Knicks, but you can’t blame him for having faith in Boston. The odds of coming back are low, sure, but they still have four game-changers in Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holliday and Derrick White to lead the way without Tatum.
