Bulls star Zach LaVine had message for Stephen A. Smith before game

Zach LaVine made a point of sending Stephen A. Smith straight to Old Takes Exposed this week.

Smith, the ESPN personality, said Friday on “First Take” that the Chicago Bulls star LaVine came up to him with a message before playing the New York Knicks the night before. Smith, a well-known Knicks fan, was in attendance for the game at Madison Square Garden.

“Zach LaVine did come up to me before the game,” Smith said. “[He said], ‘I know you want us to lose tonight, but it ain’t happening.’ And then he went out on the court and showed me why.”

LaVine dropped 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 119-115 win for Chicago. He appeared to be ticked off about the many critical comments that Smith has made about the Bulls all season. Smith has expressed doubts about the fit between LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and has questioned whether the Bulls are true contenders.