Stephen A. Smith's First Words After Knicks Secure NBA Finals Berth

Stephen A. Smith is on cloud nine after the New York Knicks clinched the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night at Rocket Arena.

No one felt that more than Smith, a lifelong Knicks devotee. The 58-year-old had already declared on ESPN's "First Take" that New York would win the NBA title this season.

He made his elation impossible to miss, posting a clip to X the moment the final buzzer sounded.

"Finally. Twenty-seven years, 27 years… we here!" Smith said, shaking in delight. "And we ain't finished. I said we going to the Finals, we going to the Finals. We gonna win the Finals! Four more, four more… four more."

We Going to the Finals! We going to the Finals!!! pic.twitter.com/S1zleqq7tk

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 26, 2026

The Knicks have been a wrecking ball in the 2026 playoffs. They swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, then ran through Cleveland without dropping a game.

Karl-Anthony Towns anchored Game 4 with 19 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Jalen Brunson added 15 points and five assists. The All-Star guard was named Eastern Conference finals MVP by unanimous vote. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists against the Cavaliers.

New York has operated as a well-oiled machine all postseason, posting an average margin of victory of 23.7 points.

The Knicks now await the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Oklahoma City Thunder series. The Western Conference finals is currently tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 on Tuesday. The NBA Finals tip off on Wednesday, June 3.

The 27-year drought is over in The Big Apple. New York is finally here, and Smith is all for it.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 3:33 AM.