Stephen A. FIRMLY BELIEVES his New York Knicks are HEADED TO THE FINALS! 📈 | First Take

Stephen A. FIRMLY BELIEVES his New York Knicks are HEADED TO THE FINALS! 📈 | First Take

Anthony Edwards for the win. Yes, sir. It’s his night. Oh, it’s a dunk contest. Loving to play basketball. Shot for the ages. That’s ridiculous. Stop playing with me. Huh? Stop playing with Oh, the NBA season tips tonight with OKC taking on the Rockets. But let’s start in the Eastern Conference. Injuries have tampered expectations for the Celtics, Pacers, and Bucks among others. That means it’s a wide openen race where the Cavaliers are currently the favorites. Knicks are close behind them as they regroup in the first year under head coach Mike Brown. Brian Winhorse joins us right now. We got to start with your Knicks, Stephen A. You see what you see with the East? What’s up, Stephen A? Look, we saw what the East looks like right now. Drew, you got the Knicks coming out of the East. The Knicks are going to the NBA Finals. I’mma say it again. The New York Knicks, Wendy, are going to the NBA finals. My jab of jaw stop. I’m recovering from root canal, Wendy. I’m telling you right now, my jaws as big as yours. Here’s the bottom line. I’m saying it. The New York Knicks are good. No, it’s a beautiful thing. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s all compliment. It’s all love. The New York Knicks, I just think that they have it. Listen, Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers are obviously a formidable threat. They had their way with the Knicks in the regular season, but I think that they showed who they are in the playoffs. Not to say that would happen again. I think they would be better. But I firmly firmly believe in this New York Knicks team and it’s by default to be quite honest with you with Jason Tatum out with Damen Lillard no longer in Milwaukee and he’s gone and obviously not healthy with Tyrese Hallebertton out for the year in all likelihood as well. I think those are three obstacles that are out of the New York Knicks way. I think it comes down to Detroit, Cleveland, and the Knicks. And I think the Knicks have what it takes. I think the transition from Mike Brown is going to allow them to use their depth a little bit more. I think that obviously they’ll be better offensively. Um, and I think because of that, the New York Knicks will end up going to the NBA Finals. Oh, Wendy, what say you? Stephen A, you better hope so because number one, this is the best opportunity they’ve had in 25 years. That’s right. Yeah. Number two, let me point out the bombshell report that our Sham Strania put out there a few weeks ago. Okay, I know everybody tried to whistle past the graveyard and try to pretend like this didn’t happen, but you know that Giannis basically said he wanted to be a Nick. That’s right. Nick’s been waiting for 15 years. That’s right. To get somebody to say they want to be a Nick because the Knicks built this team the way they did and whatever the offer that they made wasn’t good enough. Giannis is not a Nick. Now, I know that he says he’s going to be in Milwaukee and everything. Nobody denied that report. Those talks happened. The Knicks were in position to get Giannis and they didn’t get them either because they didn’t offer enough because they believe in this team, which is a totally acceptable answer. They may have the best team. Well, I’m just saying to you, if the Knicks could have had Giannis under a certain set of circumstances, but because of what they invested in this team and their and their belief in this team, and not necessarily in that order, it could be the belief first if they don’t have him. So, they got to win this year. Stephen A, they gota if they had a couple of picks instead of giving up five first round picks for Muel Bridges, they would have had Giannis. They didn’t have enough. And that’s the bottom line. But but I’m telling you right this for me personally I’d give away I’d give away the cheerleaders. I’d give away the equipment managers. I’d give away anything to get Giannis in New York City. There is no doubt about that. He’s one of the top five players on the planet earth. I would not hesitate. But still in all Milwaukee ain’t ain’t good enough to beat the New York Knicks as far as I’m concerned. I think Cleveland and Detroit are the primary threats. I see Orlando on a comeup. I love the Desmond Bane acquisition, but I don’t think they’re ready quite yet come playoff time to beat the New York Knicks squad. I think this is the greatest opportunity that the New York Knicks have had in 25 years. Wendy is right. They capitalize off of this and the finals will be at the Garden in New York. Look, it it better be with the way that the East looks right now with all the injuries, but also if you don’t swing and get Giannis because you believe in this team. Listen listen, you got to get it done. You got to get right now. I think, listen, it’s bad enough I’ve been suffering from the dent my dental stuff over the last few days. I think they’re going to have to hospitalize me, Wendy, if the New York Knicks if the New York Knicks miss this opportunity to get to the finals this year. If they miss this, if they miss this opportunity to get to the finals this year, I I think I’m going to have to take a satical. Just real quick, I mean, I just want to say this is an opportunity for Jaylen Brunson. Jaylen Brunson is already one of the greatest Knicks of the last 40 years. I think we can say that. maybe one of the best of all time. Okay, the standard is pretty the standard is high because you got the champions from the 70s. Jaylen Brunson has another year like last year. He was clutch player of the year last year. And you’re right, Stephen A. Mike Brown is trying to change the offense so they’re not so relying on him. It would not be necessarily a bad thing if they didn’t need him to win all those clutch games for him. But if Jaylen Brunson gets the New York Knicks to the finals, he is immortalized in New York City. He understands that. It’s on his plate, too. I forgot one thing to tell you, Wendy. I got Jaylen Brunson as one of my leading candidates for MVP. Oh, there could happen. Yes, I do. It could happen. You’re damn right. Oh, I’m coming. New York Knicks coming. The finals are coming to the Garden. Look, you ain’t saying nothing to me. Over the blue skies, of course, acquired Kevin Durant during the offseason, while the Thunder have kept their core. The Thunder will also raise their championship banner before tonight’s matchup. And it’s no shock that the Thunder are expected to make it back to the NBA Finals. They are the favorites to win the Western Conference according to ESPN Bet Sportsbook. Wendy, I’ll come to you first. Are the Rockets, this new look Rockets team, are they the biggest threat to the Thunder in the West? They are not the biggest threat in my opinion. I think Nico and the and the the Nuggets with a deeper team are a serious threat. I think the Clippers are a sleeper threat because of Leonard looks as good as he has looked the entire time in LA. But I you’re making me laugh at that point. But I got to say, go ahead. You I you’re you you’re going to like this Rockets team, Stephen A, as you watch them because they embody the personality of their head coach. And the the Fred Van Vleet injury was a a setback for them. And I’m not sure that you can win four playoff series or three playoff series with a young guard like Amed Thompson as he’s learning the position. Do you see who they’re starting tonight, Stephen? Okay, they are starting a 67 point guard Amen Thompson and four dudes who are 611. They are sending a message on night one against the Thunder who play one of the biggest teams that’s won the championship in decades against two sevenfooters that they can play big with them. Tonight is a statement opportunity for the Houston Rockets. Well, let me say a couple of things. Number one, congratulations to Kevin Durant. $90 million extension. He deserves every penny. is one of the greatest players in NBA history. Period. He deserves every penny that he’s getting. Number one. Number two, I believe that Eay Udok is one of the great coaches in the game of basketball. I think the loss of Fred Van Vleet is devastating. My personal opinion, that’s where I’m at with it, Wendy. But I know they that Kevin Durant is exactly what they needed, a number one option. And here’s what you need to know, Amina, with a number one option. Here’s the number one option. Okay, we know everything you going to do, how you going to do it, all that stuff. Here’s the ball anyway. Take it. Take it. Take it. is that kind of dude, but you can’t do anything about it because he’s that surreal. So, I like Houston, but Wendy, I’m going to throw this at you. And I noticed the moves that Denver has made to get deeper and to get, you know, Bruce Brown back and all of these guys. I love what I saw Denver do in the offseason. And Jokic is jokic. I get that. Are you ready for this, Wendy? If Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis are healthy for the If the Dallas Mavericks are healthy for the postseason, I’m picking the Dallas Mavericks to go to the finals. Yeah, I’m picking the Dallas Mavericks. No, no, no, no. Kyrie, again, again, that’s a that’s a big if in terms of health to a Kyrie. It wasn’t an Achilles ACL, but health to Kyrie. Obviously, health to the Anthony Davis. That’s asking a lot. You’re looking at Denver, you’re looking at Houston, you can’t ignore the Lakers either. And I’ll give the Clippers credit. I just don’t believe that Kawhai’s gonna be healthy when they need him. That’s all. But if he’s on the court, of course, the Clippers are formidable. All right. But in the end, I’m telling you right now, when you think about Oklahoma City, their kryptonite has been the Dallas marriage. No matter what they’ve done against everybody else with or without Luca, whenever they go against Dallas, it’s problematic. and Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis on the court with Gaffford, with Lively, with PJ Washington and those boys with Jason Kid coaching them. I believe that the Dallas Mavericks could come out of the West and go to the NBA Finals. Yeah. I feel like people might be overlooking that Dallas team. And then you also have Cooper Flag down there and Dallas. I ain’t even bring him up yet. Exactly. But you bring him up with AD and Kyrie Irving them healthy. That could be a scary team, right? But I’m root for the Lakers because because I want to be a Southern California June. I don’t feel like that’s where I want to be. I’m just thinking about the weather. Not even the You’re damn right. You’re damn right. I’m thinking about where I want to be in June. You understand what I’m saying? I want LeBron and Luke and those boys to do their thing so we could be in Southern California in June. I just see that happening. But could you Yeah. Yeah. The Clippers playing LA. Could you imagine LA New York finals? Could you imagine that? That look that’ll be something to see. Oh my lord. All right, the NBA is back and the season tips off tonight with the Thunder starting their campaign to defend their title. But before things get going, we want to hear some predictions. So, let’s talk about the NBA Finals. Chris, I’ll start with you. Who you got going to the NBA Finals? I got the Oklahoma City Thunder getting back to the finals out of the Western Conference. The East is a little bit of a crapshoot. Thought about the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the early injuries got me a little bit concerned. And I know that my pick for finals is gonna upset Stephen A. And I know that I’m undermining my own argument, but I’m going to do it. I got the Philadelphia 76ers. I’m sorry to beat you. I got the Philadelphia I got the I got the Sixers going to the finals. I got the Sixers going to the finals. I got them going to the finals. Joel Embiid is that dude. Joel George is that dude. If they healthy Joel has looked healthy. Joel has looked on that. He’s looked healthy. He’s a monster, but I can’t count it. But the Philadelphia 76, that’s just blasphe. The New York Tyrese Maxi is a dog. The New York Knicks are going to the final. That That’s number one. Wow. I got news for you. I keep telling you again, it’s contingent on health. Dallas Mavericks are healthy. I got Dallas Mavericks going to the finals. And you talking about I need to be drug tested. Dallas got a better chance to feel Dallas got a better chance. You got the mask coming out o over the Denver Nuggets over the rain. You are insane. Dallas got a better chance. This is this is those medication those meds picking the meds from the roo ahead of Philly. Okay. I think Detroit ahead of Philly. I like Detroit. I like I’m not sleeping on Detroit. I don’t know how they gonna replace Malik Bles. I don’t know that I don’t know how they fluid. The list the list is fluid. My My final thing is fluid. It’s fluid. You back here tomorrow. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst join Amina Smith on First Take to make predictions for the 2025-26 NBA season ahead of Opening Night.

0:00 Talking New York Knicks
5:44 Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
8:10 Dallas Mavericks a threat to OKC?
9:55 Chris Canty’s NBA Finals picks

☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱 Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️ Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV

#ESPN #NBA