Knicks’ Josh Hart Responds to Shane Gillis’ NSFW Comment on NY

After acquiring Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks have re-emerged as significant contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their progress, despite a tough Game 7 loss to the Indiana Pacers in last season’s playoff semifinals, signals a notable resurgence. This offseason, the Knicks added Mikal Bridges, aiming high and reuniting him with former Villanova teammates Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart. However, not everyone is impressed, including comedian Shane Gillis, whose criticism didn’t go unnoticed by Josh Hart.

Gillis expressed his discontent during a call-in to the Big Knicks Energy podcast, making his feelings about New York’s iconic team clear. “Yeah, the Knicks f**king suck, dude,” he said bluntly. He didn’t stop there, comparing them to the Philadelphia 76ers and adding, “Exact same as the f**king Knicks this year, baby. This is your guys’ Super Bowl, still didn’t get a ring.” Josh Hart, active on X (formerly Twitter), didn’t let this slide without a response.

“Mannnnn I like Shane Gillis…now I got to hate him @Shanemgillis 😂😂,” Hart replied, blending humor with his evident displeasure. Yet Gillis continued his critique, not holding back any punches.

“It’s all good, though,” he continued. “You guys won a series? It felt so good to have the Garden back. The Mecca of basketball that has zero f**king rings. Oh my God, bunch of f**king losers, dude…”

For a franchise with such a storied history, the Knicks last won a title half a century ago in 1973. Their resurgence in the 1990s, under the leadership of Patrick Ewing and the coaching of ex-Lakers champion Pat Riley, was notable but thwarted by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. The team’s best shot at another title came during Jordan’s first retirement in 1994, but they fell short against Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets.

Following that period, the Knicks struggled for over a decade due to poor roster management, trades, and drafting. Players like Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony ushered in a small resurgence, leading the team to the second round in 2013, only to lose to the Indiana Pacers once more.

Recently, Julius Randle has been instrumental in steering the Knicks back into playoff contention, though further roster tweaks were essential. Last season, they acquired OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, one of the NBA’s most sought-after wings. In the offseason, they secured Brunson with a four-year, $156-million contract and signed Anunoby to a five-year, $212-million deal.

Despite losing interior presence Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks aimed to compensate with the Mikal Bridges trade. The arrival of Bridges is seen as a critical step in finding the winning formula that could see the Knicks advance to the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics have been knocking on that door for a few years before finally breaking through. The question remains: have the Knicks assembled the right pieces to achieve their goal sooner rather than later?

Fans and analysts will be closely watching as the season progresses to see if the team can live up to the heightened expectations, silencing critics like Shane Gillis. New York hopes its strategic moves and current roster can finally bring the long-desired success back to Madison Square Garden.

Source: ClutchPoints, Big Knicks Energy Podcast