Rusty Weiss
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith is in full meltdown mode after the New York Knicks dropped to a 2-1 deficit in their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. Smith is an outspoken Knicks superfan.
Condolences, Stephen.
An enraged Smith is pointing the finger of blame everywhere but at the one place drawing the most online buzz: WWE star Danhausen’s curse.
Smith, who has been vocal about his beloved team’s shortcomings, unleashed a fiery rant demanding accountability across the entire organization if the Knicks fail to advance.
“Heads need to roll,” he declared, targeting everyone from the president and GM to the coach, players, and even the dance team.
Wild. But he still won’t give the dreaded Danhausen curse any credit. And he seemed to lose his mind when the WWE comedic star taunted him a bit over his supernatural powers.
“[Stephen A. Smith] APOLOGIZE and Danhausen will think about maybe possibly pondering lifting your curse,” Danhausen wrote on X. “Also send human money.”
.@stephenasmith APOLOGIZE and Danhausen will think about maybe possibly pondering lifting your curse.
— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) April 24, 2026
Also send human money.
@FirstTake pic.twitter.com/pWUeUGnb4I
Stephen A. Smith Refuses to Apologize as Danhausen’s Curse Haunts Knicks in Playoffs
An enraged Smith fired back. Man, this is setting up nicely for a solid WWE feud and match between the two.
“I’m not apologizing for a damn thing, [Danhausen]. Not a damn thing,” Smith seethed. “Curse or no curse, the [Knicks] have NO BUSINESS losing this series to the [Hawks] — no matter how good that young team is. No business.”
“If the [Knicks] lose this series, heads need to roll. Period. President! GM! Coach! Players! Even the damn Dance Team! To hell with all that superstitious stuff,” he added.
I’m not apologizing for a damn thing @DanhausenAD. Not a damn thing. Curse or no curse, the @nyknicks have NO BUSINESS losing this series to the @ATLHawks — no matter how good that young team is. No business. If the @Knicks lose this series, heads need to roll. Period. President!… https://t.co/RX6frRTRAI
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 24, 2026
The Knicks’ struggles have only intensified the bizarre feud that began when Danhausen appeared on First Take and placed a curse on Smith.
Danhausen has just cursed Stephen A Smith 😬 pic.twitter.com/eFJgitu5Bh
— Inside The Dome (@inside_the_dome) April 17, 2026
They won Game 1 of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, 113-102. But, perhaps that’s what makes the curse so effective. So evil. So nice. Giving Knicks fans like SAS hope.
New York has since dropped two straight — a narrow 107-106 loss in Game 2 at home and a heartbreaking 109-108 defeat in Game 3 on the road, where they blew late leads.
They now trail the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Saturday, with the “curse” becoming a viral meme.
“The [Knicks] need to handle their damn business,” a petrified Smith added. “They had better not lose this series, damnit. I swear they better not!”
