The greatest moment of the 2022 NBA Draft did not come from any of the players selected, but instead from Spike Lee and Stephen A. Smith.
As the New York Knicks were preparing to make the No. 11 pick in the draft, the two were talking, wondering who might be the player to help New York out of its extended era of futility.
Smith asked Lee, “What are we going to do with the Knicks now? I mean, what are we looking for?”
Lee had only one answer — take it to a higher power. The film director dropped to his knees and look toward the heavens. It did not take long for Smith to follow and join Lee in prayer.
Spike Lee and Stephen A. Smith pray for the Knicks on live television. 🏀🙏😂 pic.twitter.com/rPPtxjtwDp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 24, 2022
NBA fans loved what they saw from the two beleagured Knicks fans.
Spike Lee and Steven A. praying for the #Knicks is all of us right now.
— Kevin Maher (@KMaherNews12) June 24, 2022
Spike praying is the funny thing ever #NBADraft
— 🇨🇩 Jem🖤King’s towel tribe (@LadyJmbala) June 24, 2022
Spike & Stephen A Praying Is Mad Funny
— Marcco G 🥱 (@TheDyinggBreed) June 24, 2022
Spike Lee and Stephen A really praying the Knicks get a good pick😂😂😂
Its really stressful being a Knicks fan!!
— Andrew Stevens III (@DrewStevensIII) June 24, 2022
Spike and Stephen A praying for the Knicks on national TV 😂🤣😂
— Reuben (@RubyCruz_91) June 24, 2022
LOL Spike Lee & @stephenasmith praying that the #Knicks get somebody good in the draft. It’s a #mood 🏀🤣
— Allan Nosoff (@AWxNYC) June 24, 2022
So, that begs the question. What did the Knicks do with the pick? That’s complicated.
With that pick, New York selected Ousmane Dieng. But, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, that pick was actually made for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also reported that the Knicks will receive “multiple first-round picks” from the Thunder, though that does not include Jalen Williams, who Oklahoma City used the No. 12 selection on.
The confusion was added to when Shams Charania reported that the Knicks will send Kemba Walker to the Detroit Pistons. Again, New York’s return was not immediately clear.
So, were the prayers of Spike and Stephen A. answered? Time will tell. For now, though, it seems like not even a higher power can figure out the Knicks.
