- LeBron James said the New York Knicks "passed on a really good" player in Dennis Smith Jr.
- The Knicks chose Frank Ntilikina one spot ahead of Smith in the 2017 draft.
- Several Knicks players defended Ntilikina, with center Enes Kanter saying he couldn't let James "disrespect" Ntilkina and the team like that.
- James responded on Monday, saying people got their "pants in bunches" and saying it was a shot at former Knicks president Phil Jackson, not Ntilikina.
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LeBron James and the Knicks are in a war of words after James criticized their draft decision
After LeBron James said Dennis Smith Jr. "should be a Knick," he clarified that it was a shot at Phil Jackson, not Frank Ntilikina.
The New York Knicks and LeBron James continued a war of words on Monday after James criticized the Knicks' decisions during the NBA Draft.
On Saturday, James praised Dallas Mavericks rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr., the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft, saying the Knicks "passed on a really good one." The Knicks had the eighth pick in the draft and took point guard Frank Ntilikina.
James said Smith "should be a Knick."
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The following day, several Knicks players came to the defense of the 19-year-old Ntilikina, none stronger than center Enes Kanter.
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