Stephen A. Smith never failed to show his fan love for the New York Knicks. After the Game 5 victory, he had something unusual to thank a fan who hired a witch. The ESPN analyst took to social media to congratulate Rohit Thawani, a Knicks fan who revealed he paid a witch on Etsy to cast a spell before the game.
The Knicks were down 3-1 in the series and needed a miracle. Fans got frustrated, especially after head coach Tom Thibodeau limited Karl-Anthony Towns’ minutes and stuck with a tight rotation. Smith expressed his disappointment with those decisions, fearing they would ruin the Knicks’ season. But in game 5, the team came out firing. They led by nearly 30 points at one stage and won 111-94 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After the win, Smith posted a thank-you message to Thawani, playfully crediting the spell for the turnaround. The NBA analyst quoted the fan’s tweet showing a screenshot of the bill, captioning it: “Thank you for your efforts.”
Thank you for your efforts https://t.co/V3ZWELQQzd
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 30, 2025
Knicks fans have always been passionate, but this took things to another level. With the series shifting back to Indiana, the Knicks must carry the same energy and more magic. Stephen A. Smith made one clear: Knicks fans will do whatever it takes to win.
Stephen A. Smith Praised Indiana Pacers After Their Game 4 Victory
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back after the New York Knicks’ 130-121 Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers, admitting that the Pacers are a better team. With the Knicks trailing 1-3 in the series after the loss, Smith praised the Pacers’ depth, youth, and head coach Rick Carlisle, calling him a Hall of Famer-caliber leader.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
He praised the Indiana Pacers’ strong delivery, saying, “They’re the better team from top to bottom.”
"They're the better team from top to bottom."@StephenASmith praises the Pacers for their ECF performance 👏 pic.twitter.com/NzOmfIgmK6
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 28, 2025
He also warned that the Knicks would need a Herculean effort to stay alive. Smith and Kendrick Perkins debated Tyrese Haliburton’s superstar status on the same show. While Perkins said only five current players deserve that title, Smith argued Haliburton’s postseason heroics knock.
As the series heads into a crucial Game 6 with the Knicks’ solid comeback in Game 5, all eyes will be on whether the Knicks can rally or if the Pacers will close it out. Either way, the spotlight will be on the Pacers’ rising stars and the Knicks’ fight to survive.
Also Read: Stephen A. Smith Issues Blunt Warning To “Future Face Of The NBA” Anthony Edwards
