Comedian, Knicks Fan Sam Morril Calls Stephen A. Smith 'Curse to the Franchise'
Stand-up comic Sam Morril hardly finds Stephen A. Smith's New York Knicks takes to be a laughing matter.
Morril doubles as one of the most frequent guests in the Knicks' courtside seating. Having grown up in New York City and released four specials on Comedy Central, YouTube, and Netflix, Morril has played his fame into a de facto Knicks commentator role on Dan Le Batard's programs.
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In the latest edition of "The Dan Le Batard Show" released on Thursday, Morril targeted LeBetard's former ESPN co-worker and Knicks fan/critic Smith. The Knicks' recent run of success has produced varying opinions from Smith, who is often seen using ESPN airwaves to beg for the team to trade for supposed superstars.
Morril has often virtually called out Smith on his X feed and held nothing back when Le Batard asked about their supposed rivalry.
“He’s a curse to the franchise,” Morril said. “Stop rooting for us. I don’t want you on our side. Anytime he calls a game, we lose. Go away!”
Morril was particularly peeved about Smith's Christmas Day analysis of center Isaiah Hartenstein, who has become one of the Knicks' most vital contributors in the wake of an injury to primary big man Mitchell Robinson.
Hartenstein's breakout (headlined by a career-best 8.1 rebounds a game) was surely a surprise to Smith, who complained about having "to deal with some dude named Hartenstein" while Robinson healed. In relief, Hartenstein had 11 points and eight rebounds in the Knicks' holiday win over the Bucks. Just over a week later, Hartenstein pulled in 20 rebounds in a nationally-televised tilt in Chicago.
"Some guy? This dude’s an NBA player,” Morril said, defending Hartenstein as a difference-maker in a potential postseason series with the Eastern Conferece-leading Boston Celtics. "How could ESPN get any worse? I’m just like, dude, replace him with (Richard Jefferson) or (JJ Redick) or someone who knows what they’re talking about."
Not all Worldwide Leader analysts met Morril's wrath, as he showed former Celtics center Kendrick Perkins with praise.
"I never thought I’d find the day where I loved Kendrick Perkins, but this guy finally gives us props," Morril said. "TNT, I love those guys, but they won’t give the Knicks props; they won’t give Jalen Brunson props. I don’t know what Kenny Smith has against New York, being a New York guy, but get over it, dude. We’re here. No one wants us in the playoffs; we just got to get healthy.”
Hartenstein is among those injuries Morril indirectly refers to, as he has missed each of the last three games (all losses) before the All-Star break with Achilles woes. Though reserves like Precious Achuiwa have likewise picked up the slack, the Knicks' rebounding margin was a mere plus-1 in his absence.
