Stephen A. Smith crying on showStephen A Smith/First Take

Stephen A. Smith couldn’t hide his shock — and his emotions quickly spilled out.

While live on First Take Thursday, the ESPN star reacted in real-time to the breaking news that New York Knicks forward Julius Randle will undergo season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Randle will be sidelined for at least five months while he recovers.

Smith, a lifelong Knicks fan, looked visibly stunned as he processed the devastating blow to the team’s playoff hopes.

Stephen A Smith could not believe his ears and his emotions came out.

On Thursday, the ESPN star was on First Take when he got the news that New York Knicks big man Julius Randle will undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery and be reevaluated in five months. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.

Julius Randle hasn’t taken the court since dislocating his shoulder back in January. Despite months of rehab, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that doctors warned Randle his shoulder remained too unstable for a safe return this season, forcing him into surgery.

The news hit New York Knicks fans hard — and none harder than Stephen A. Smith.

On Thursday’s episode of First Take, Stephen A. reacted in real time, visibly emotional and on the verge of tears as the news broke live. To make it even more dramatic, the show played somber music in the background as Smith mourned what feels like another crushing blow for Knicks Nation.

Randle hasn’t played since he dislocated the shoulder in January while Wojnarowski noted “doctors warned him that his shoulder’s continued instability made it unsafe for him to play again this season” despite his rehab attempts.

It was news that was heartbreaking to hear for New York Knicks fans as well as Stephen A. Smith.

On Thursday, Stephen A. Smith was damn near in tears on First Take as he reacted to the devastating news in real-time on the show. They even had sad music playing in the background to go along with his crying.

 

Stephen A. Smith had held out hope that Julius Randle could return this postseason, as the Knicks star had been rehabbing hard to avoid surgery. But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Randle’s decision to undergo the procedure now gives him a chance to be fully recovered by the start of the 2024–25 season.

Before the injury, Randle had been playing at an elite level, making his third All-Star appearance in four years. He averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 47.2% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range, per ESPN.com.

Stephen A. Smith had hoped he could return as Randle had been rehabbing to avoid the surgery and return for the playoffs, Wojnarowski reported undergoing the procedure at this point means he could be fully recovered for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

Randle had made his third All-Star Game in four years and averaged 24.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three-point range, via ESPN.com.

Stephen A. Smith Is A Lifetime New York Knicks Fan Who Desperately Wants To See The Team Win

Stephen A Smith loves two things. Cheering for the New York Knicks and hating on the Dallas Cowboys.

Stephen A Smith has often taken shots at the team over the years, but he does it out of love because he simply wants to see the team win and get back to the NBA Finals, somewhere they haven’t been since the mid-90s where they lost to the Houston Rockets.