Stephen A. Smith Slams New York Knicks Defense as 'Horrible' Amid Midseason Collapse
The honeymoon phase for the New York Knicks is officially over. After a blistering 23-9 start to the 2025-26 NBA season that had fans dreaming of a deep playoff run, the wheels have come off at Madison Square Garden. The team has plummeted into a mid-January tailspin, losing nine of their last 11 games and leaving analysts searching for answers. On the latest edition of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith didn't hold back, offering a blunt assessment of the Stephen A. Smith New York Knicks defense: "They're horrible."
Alongside Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, Smith voiced the frustrations of a fan base that has watched their team transform from an Eastern Conference juggernaut into a defensive sieve since the Christmas holiday. The numbers back up the vitriol, as the Knicks have statistically become one of the worst defensive units in the league over the last three weeks.
The Numbers Behind the Defensive Disaster
The Stephen A. Smith New York Knicks defense critique isn't just hyperbole; it is rooted in a staggering statistical decline. Since the calendar flipped to 2026, the Knicks have posted a defensive rating of 120.5, the worst mark in the Eastern Conference. During this stretch, they have consistently allowed opponents to hemorrhage points at the rim and find open looks from the three-point line.
The situation reached a breaking point on Monday night when a shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team—missing eight players—walked into Madison Square Garden and dropped 75 points in the first half alone. The Knicks eventually fell 114-97, leading to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. "I can't believe how bad a Mike Brown team is defensively," Smith noted, referencing the team's head coach. "I've never seen anything like this."
The Jalen Brunson Defensive Dilemma
While Jalen Brunson remains the undisputed heart of the franchise, his defensive impact has come under intense scrutiny during this losing streak. Brunson is having another All-Star caliber season offensively, but the team's defensive metrics with him on the floor are alarming. Currently, the Knicks are allowing 120.2 points per 100 possessions when Brunson is on the court, compared to just 109.6 when he sits.
This 10.6-point swing is one of the most drastic in the NBA. When paired with Karl-Anthony Towns, another player whose offensive brilliance often outweighs his defensive consistency, the Knicks' starting lineup has struggled to secure the necessary stops to win close games. As Stephen A. Smith pointed out, the team's elite offense (ranked 3rd in the league) can no longer compensate for a defense that ranks near the bottom of the NBA.
Locker Room Frustration and Effort Issues
It isn't just the media calling out the team; the players themselves are beginning to voice their concerns. Josh Hart, known for his relentless energy and hustle, was visibly frustrated following the loss to the Mavericks, describing the team's effort as "inexcusable."
- Effort: Players have admitted that the defensive intensity seen in November and early December has vanished.
- Communication: Blown assignments on the perimeter have led to the Knicks becoming the worst defensive three-point shooting team in the league.
- Rebounding: Despite having Towns and Hart, the Knicks have struggled to finish defensive possessions with clean boards during this 11-game slide.
Can the Knicks Turn it Around?
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, rumors are already swirling about potential roster shakeups. While reports suggest the front office is hesitant to move core pieces like Towns or Mikal Bridges, the pressure is mounting on Mike Brown to find a schematic solution. The Knicks recently signed NBA champion Dillon Jones to a two-way contract in hopes of injecting some defensive grit into the rotation, but a single depth move may not be enough to fix the fundamental issues.
The Knicks currently sit at 25-18, still firmly in the playoff hunt but rapidly losing ground to the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. If they cannot stabilize the Stephen A. Smith New York Knicks defense, the "horrible" label might stick through the postseason. For a team that entered the season with championship aspirations, the time for soul-searching has arrived.
