Stephen A. Smith and Trump exchange barbs over NBA Finals attendance
4 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 8:11 PM
Last updated Jun 9, 2026
Stephen A. Smith criticized President Donald Trump following Game 3 of the NBA Finals, blaming him for the New York Knicks' loss. Smith's comments included a faux presidential address where he mocked Trump’s presence at the game. In response, Trump questioned Smith’s qualifications to run for president, doubting his intelligence. Their feud escalated further as Smith suggested Trump should not attend future games, citing increased security and public disturbance. Reports indicate that Trump is not expected to attend Game 4 due to scheduling conflicts.
- •Smith blamed Trump for the Knicks' postseason loss in Game 3.
- •Trump responded by questioning Smith's intelligence and aptitude for politics.
- •Smith urged Trump to avoid attending future Knicks games to reduce disruption.
- •Reports suggest Trump will not attend Game 4 due to prior obligations.
- •The feud underscores the tension between sports figures and political figures.
- 8:11 PMDeadline — Stephen A. Smith Taunts Trump Over IQ Insult, Knicks Loss, Falling Asleep - Deadline
- 6:23 PMYahoo Sports — Stephen A. Smith Challenges Donald Trump to Debate After Trump Questions His IQ
- 6:02 PMYahoo Sports — Stephen A. Smith Fires Back at Trump After ‘Low IQ’ Remark on First Take
- 4:27 PMYahoo Sports — Trump, Stephen A. Smith Escalate NBA Finals-Fueled Feud
"Stephen A. Smith was not one to allow the latest dig by President Trump go unanswered. Just less than 24 hours after questioning if the ESPN analyst could pass a basic test on intelligence, Smith took his “First Take” show and made it more like a presidential campaign stop where the American flag, presidential-style background [...]
"Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals produced one of the biggest off-court storylines of the series. After the Knicks lost 115-111 to the Spurs, President Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith became the center of attention. Stephen A. Smith had strongly criticized Trump’s attendance before the game and said he would blame the president [...]
"Donald Trump thinks Stephen A. Smith isn't smart enough to run for POTUS, let's just say the ESPN host strongly disagrees with the often sleepy incumbent
Sources
External links- DeadlineJun 9, 2026, 8:11 PMStephen A. Smith Taunts Trump Over IQ Insult, Knicks Loss, Falling Asleep - Deadline
Donald Trump thinks Stephen A. Smith isn't smart enough to run for POTUS, let's just say the ESPN host strongly disagrees with the often sleepy incumbent
- Yahoo SportsJun 9, 2026, 6:23 PMStephen A. Smith Challenges Donald Trump to Debate After Trump Questions His IQ
Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals produced one of the biggest off-court storylines of the series. After the Knicks lost 115-111 to the Spurs, President Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith became the center of attention. Stephen A. Smith had strongly criticized Trump’s attendance before the game and said he would blame the president [...]
- Yahoo SportsJun 9, 2026, 6:02 PMStephen A. Smith Fires Back at Trump After ‘Low IQ’ Remark on First Take
Stephen A. Smith was not one to allow the latest dig by President Trump go unanswered. Just less than 24 hours after questioning if the ESPN analyst could pass a basic test on intelligence, Smith took his “First Take” show and made it more like a presidential campaign stop where the American flag, presidential-style background [...]
- Yahoo SportsJun 9, 2026, 4:27 PMTrump, Stephen A. Smith Escalate NBA Finals-Fueled Feud
Trump questioned if Smith has the IQ required to run for president.
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NBA•Sep 7, 2026, 6:04 AMGolden State Warriors’ Key Contributor Predicted to Outperform Contract
NBA•Sep 7, 2026, 5:51 AMClippers’ Max Strus Reveals He Had To Sacrifice His Individual ‘Bag’ To Make It In The NBA- NBA•Sep 7, 2026, 4:13 AMStephon Castle dives into what it's like adjusting from the regular season to the Playoffs
- NBA•Sep 7, 2026, 3:22 AMMikal Bridges credits the Knicks' experience for their ability to make big comebacks
NBA•Sep 7, 2026, 2:28 AMPelle Larsson Expected To Be A Candidate For Most Improved Player Next Season
NBA•Sep 6, 2026, 10:33 PMWhat does Jayson Tatum need to do to lead the Celtics in the 2026-27 NBA regular season?
