Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith feud during NBA Finals in New York
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 11, 2026, 12:12 PM
Last updated Jun 11, 2026
The ongoing feud between Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith intensified during the NBA Finals. Their conflict erupted when Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks lost to the Spurs, cutting the series lead to 2-1. Smith criticized Trump's appearance as a distraction, blaming the loss on him. Trump responded by questioning Smith's intelligence and referred to him as 'low IQ' on social media. Smith retaliated by challenging Trump to a debate, emphasizing he would not be an easy target. This unusual sports-politics clash illustrates the intertwining of basketball, personal rivalry, and political ambitions during the finals.
- •Knicks lost Game 3, series cut to 2-1 against Spurs.
- •Smith blamed Trump for the Knicks' performance.
- •Trump called Smith 'low IQ' in social media remarks.
- •Smith challenged Trump to a debate over political ambitions.
- •The conflict has drawn significant media attention during the finals.
- 12:12 PMYahoo Sports — A timeline of Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith’s beef during NBA Finals
"Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith turned Knicks vs Spurs into a running sports-politics feud during the NBA Finals.
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