Knicks coach David Fizdale offers ‘no comment’ on Spike Lee tanking quote

The New York Knicks became an unlikely topic of discussion during the Academy Awards show on Sunday night, thanks to some banter between Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee.

Jackson came up to present an award alongside Brie Larson and made sure to inform Lee that his beloved Knicks had won and snapped their 18-game home losing streak. That prompted a quip from Lee, who said the Knicks were “trying to tank.”

The Knicks were not happy about the tanking talk. Knicks head coach David Fizdale offered a “no comment on that part” to the New York Post.

Dennis Smith Jr., who was acquired in a recent trade with the Mavericks, said the team is trying to win, not tank.

The players on the floor are probably trying to win as Smith says. The thing about tanking is the front office does what it can to put together a team they don’t think will be able to win much even when the players are trying hard. New York has succeeded at that as they have the second-worst record in the league.

If they’re able to strike it big with a high draft pick and land a top free agent or two, the Knicks could turn things around quickly.