NBA fans react to resurfaced audio of Celtics insider dismissing the Knicks during the regular season

The NBA world is buzzing after the New York Knicks stunned the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Reactions poured in from all corners, including Magic Johnson, who drew comparisons between the Knicks’ current run and the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” era of the 1990s. Fans have taken the conversation to social media, fueling a passionate debate.

To be fair, many analysts and fans favored the defending champions heading into the Knicks vs. Celtics series, and for good reason. Boston dominated the regular season and looked every bit like a title favorite. But what’s unfolding now is a reminder that the NBA Playoffs are an entirely different beast.

Following New York’s Game 2 win, a resurfaced audio clip from Celtics insider Brian Scalabrine began making the rounds on social media. In the clip, recorded back in February 2025, Scalabrine downplayed the Knicks’ chances in the postseason, remarks that are now being widely revisited.

Scalabrine’s past comments are drawing backlash from fans, many of whom feel the narrative has dramatically shifted. “What’s his @? I wanna take a look at his profile real quick. I know he’s hurting,” one fan posted. Another added, “The idea that the Knicks weren’t on Boston’s level is laughable. Now they’re down 2-0. What’s the talk now?” With the Knicks flipping the script, social media has become a battleground for those challenging the Celtics narrative.

Some fans agreed to Scalabrine’s harsh take on the Knicks

Following the resurfacing of an audio clip in which Scalabrine took a shot at the Knicks, many NBA fans joined the conversation, especially as the Celtics look to bounce back from a 2-0 deficit in the current playoff series. “Ownership is the only reason the Knicks haven’t been more of a destination for free agents or superstars looking to be traded. Boston is a historic franchise no one wants to play for, lol,“ one user commented in response to Scalabrine’s remarks.

Another fan reflected on the unexpected nature of the series. “In fairness, we all thought this. I mean, what human could’ve predicted these first two games? Nothing they did during the regular season or the first round gave us any inclination that this was possible,” someone posted on X.

What did Scalabrine say about the Knicks?

While discussing the Celtics’ dominant 131-104 win over the Knicks earlier in the season, Scalabrine coined two terms to express New York’s struggles: “loserdom” and “New York Knickerbockers.” His comments were widely shared and criticized for their bluntness.

“The great level of ‘loserdom’, and that’s not even a word, but the great concentration of ‘loserdom’ within the New York ‘Knickerbockers’. No team that’s branded as big-time has done less,” Scalabrine said after the February matchup between Boston and New York.