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Jalen Brunson's Sister Blasts ESPN Over Stephen A. Smith's Knicks Rant
Erica Brunson calls out the 'Worldwide Leader' after Smith criticizes her brother's teammate Josh Hart on 'First Take'.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:10pm
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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson's sister, Erica Brunson, took to social media to criticize ESPN and personality Stephen A. Smith after he targeted Brunson's teammate and best friend, Josh Hart, during a rant about the struggling Knicks on 'First Take'.
Why it matters
The Brunson family has a close relationship, and Erica's strong defense of her brother and his teammate highlights the growing tensions between players, their families, and the media coverage of their teams, especially as the Knicks push for the playoffs.
The details
During a recent 'First Take' segment, Smith called out Hart, Brunson's teammate and podcast co-host, for the Knicks' recent struggles against teams with winning records. Smith said Hart needed to 'prioritize' Smith's criticisms instead of 'protecting' his friends. Erica Brunson responded by blasting ESPN, saying she no longer watches the network due to 'utterly ridiculous' coverage like Smith's rant.
- On April 1, 2026, Stephen A. Smith criticized Josh Hart on ESPN's 'First Take'.
- On April 2, 2026, Erica Brunson posted her response on X (formerly Twitter).
The players
Jalen Brunson
All-Star point guard for the New York Knicks.
Erica Brunson
Jalen Brunson's sister, who works at CAA, Jalen's agency, in basketball client and marketing services.
Josh Hart
Jalen Brunson's teammate on the New York Knicks and co-host of the 'Roommates Show' podcast with Brunson.
Stephen A. Smith
ESPN personality who hosts the 'First Take' program.
What they’re saying
“'A message to Josh Hart: Do I need to shut the hell up now? Does it make sense what I was saying now? I mean, you're getting it now? You haven't won a game since you clapped back at me. You're on a losing streak since he talked back to me. Maybe if you prioritize what I was saying, and pay attention to the substance and veracity of my comments instead of protecting your boys, you'd be winning games when you go up against teams that are better than .500 with their record.'”
— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Personality
“'I used to always have ESPN on in the background during the day. It was such a staple growing up. Now? I never turn it on. And this is a big reason why. Utterly ridiculous.'”
— Erica Brunson, Jalen Brunson's Sister
What’s next
The Knicks have just six regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin, and the team's performance against winning teams will be closely watched as they look to secure a high seed in the Eastern Conference.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the growing tensions between players, their families, and the media coverage of their teams, especially as the Knicks push for the playoffs. It also raises questions about the role of sports media personalities and their influence on player and team dynamics.
