NBA

Stephen A Smith Gives Knicks 0% Chance Of Winning NBA Finals

Author photo
By
Anthony Cardenas
Author photo
Anthony Cardenas Sports Editor

Get to know Anthony Cardenas better
Sports Editor

Published30 May 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.

ESPN analyst and personality Stephen A Smith is known to be a fan of the NBA Finals, if they actually get there.

Stephen A Smith Gives Knicks “Zero” Chance Of Winning NBA Finals

Smith first said that the Knicks have a low probability of even forcing a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Once down 3 games to 1 against the Indiana Pacers, New York pulled off a home victory on Thursday night to keep their hopes alive. They’ll now head to Indiana for another elimination game, and the home team will be listed as a 3.5-point favorite to end the series once and for all.

According to Smith, the Knicks have a 30% chance of winning Game 6 in order to force a deciding game that would be played inside Madison Square Garden.

But even if the Knicks do pull off the unlikely feat of coming back from a 3-1 deficit, he doesn’t have much confidence in his team past that point.

“I give them zero chance, zero, of beating the Oklahoma City Thunder if they were to advance to the Finals…I watched OKC, I see the bodies that they’re throwing and I see the New York Knicks style of play and the lack of personnel. You can see it in the way Oklahoma City defends.”

That seems to be the general consensus among fans and those currently following the league. Many believe that the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals will simply be playing for second place, as the Thunder have been a dominant force all season long.

Thunder Are Heavy Favorites To Win It All

As it stands on Friday, May 30th, OKC is listed as an overwhelming favorite to the NBA championship, coming in with a betting designation of -750. The Pacers are at +700, while the Knicks are way back at +2000. That means that a $100 bet on New York would net a bettor a profit of $2,000 if what Stephen A Smith considers to be impossible actually happens.

Regardless of the outcome of Game 6 between the Knicks and Pacers, Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals will be held on June 5th in Oklahoma City.