New York Knicks' Julius Randle News Brings Stephen A. Smith to Tears

The New York Knicks have endured countless injuries this season. The hurt feelings of one of their biggest fans/critics may be the latest to appear on the report.

New York's announcement of Julius Randle's season-ending shoulder procedure hit ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith particularly hard, as the Worldwide Leader personality was nearly brought to tears over Randle's diagnosis. The three-time All-Star has not taken the floor at Madison Square Garden since suffering a dislocated shoulder in Jan. 27's win over Miami.

“You get an opportunity, with Milwaukee looking suspect, Miami looking suspect at times, Joel Embiid injured,” a woeful Smith said on Thursday's edition of "First Take." “The Knicks had a chance to get to the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston, and then this happens. You can’t make it up, man."

"Contrary to what people think, I am a nice guy," Smith carried on. "I try to do the right thing, I love the Lord, and I pray every morning and every night. I give back as best as I possibly can. All I ever ask is just for the Knicks … there’s always something. Something. Damn it!”

While there are no doubt legions of Knicks fans expressing sentiments similar to Smith, not all is lost with Randle done for the year: New York is 16-15 in his absence and continues to linger in the upper half of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The All-Star efforts of Jalen Brunson have kept them rolling and the team received a major boost on Friday when OG Anunoby returned to the lineup after a nine-game departure. Though the Knicks fell to the Chicago Bulls, they're 15-3 when Anunoby takes the floor for them this season.

New York will have a chance to make some headway sans Randle on Sunday night when they face the second-ranked Milwaukee Bucks (7 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).