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WATCH: Stephen A. Smith Told to Stop Using First Take for 'Knicks Recruiting'

Ryan Clark has had enough of Stephen A. Smith using ESPN's airwaves for the futile exercise of recruiting the NBA's finest to the New York Knicks.

Geoff Magliocchetti

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Beyond the 11 p.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, there are few certainties left at ESPN.

One of those assurances is Stephen A. Smith using airtime on "First Take" to lure NBA superstars into the blue-and-orange threads of the New York Knicks. In between debates on the long-running program, Smith, an equal tries to play New York general manager, offering hypothetical contracts at even the slightest hint of an All-Star's availability.

Fellow "First Take" analyst Ryan Clark has had enough, chastising Smith for his mobilization on Friday's edition of the program.

"At some point, I don’t know if it’s (ESPN president) Jimmy Pitaro, I don’t know if it’s (ESPN vice president of production) Peter McConville, I don’t know if it’s (ESPN head of event & studio production) Dave Roberts, somebody has to stop allowing Stephen A. to use 'First Take' as a New York Knicks recruiting spot," Clark, a former NFL defender, declared. "(NBA commissioner) Adam Silver needs to fine Stephen A., or the New York Knicks need to be fined for constantly tampering. Everybody can’t play for the Knicks. People don’t want to play for them. They don’t want to play there!”

Smith's de facto failure is perhaps his greatest defense: despite the countless names he has placed on the metropolitan radar, the Knicks have added few, if any, major names in their prime through free agency. Their current franchise faces, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, had respectable careers prior to their Manhattan entries but failed to draw Smith's prolonged attention.

However, the lack of success and Clark's complaining won't stop Smith from trying.

"I haven’t been able to get anybody!" Smith exclaimed in response. "I haven’t been able to get anybody! I’m praying at least one time it works, at least one time!”

Clark's wish was brought about by a discussion centered around Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, one called into question when the Milwaukee Bucks superstar and champion hinted that he had reservations about signing a long-term deal in Cream City. This prompted Smith to recall an incident where he and Clark attended a boxing match between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence ... but his attention was instead on Damian Lillard, as Smith once again "begged" the tenured Portland Trail Blazer to consider New York.

"Desperate times!" Smith labeled his lobbying.

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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Geoff Magliocchetti
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI

Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks

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