Stephen A. Smith has sent a warning to sports leagues, claiming that President Donald Trump is "coming" following a sweeping FBI gambling investigation that has led to the arrests of several NBA figures.
The probe, which spanned two separate operations, resulted in the arrests of Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and retired NBA player Damon Jones, among others. The NBA has since placed Billups and Rozier on immediate leave while reviewing the federal indictments.
"You know what world we’re living in in terms of politics," Smith said during a segment on First Take on Thursday (October 23). "How many times with one incident after another? Trump is coming. He’s coming. I’m going to say it on national television again."
Smith pointed to Trump’s long history with the gambling and sports worlds, including his ownership of Atlantic City casinos and his high-profile clashes with sports leagues in the past.
"Remember, Trump has a long, long history connected to the world of sports because he had those casinos," Smith said. "Where do you think those folks were coming half the time? … Don’t be surprised if the WNBA is next on his list. Because when you got all of these protesters that have been going out there and people who have been protesting against him … this man is coming."
While Smith emphasized he wasn’t questioning the legitimacy of the FBI investigation, he argued that the scope and presentation of the arrests — including the FBI director’s involvement — appeared political.
"It’s not coincidental. It’s not an accident. It’s a statement. And it’s a warning that more is coming," Smith said. "In (Trump’s) eyes, folks tried to throw him in jail. In his eyes, he’s innocent and they tried to put him behind bars. 'I’m getting everybody.' He’s not playing."
Smith claimed that people within major sports leagues have told him the arrests are "just the tip of the iceberg," hinting at deeper investigations possibly tied to political motives. The NBA released a statement Thursday confirming its cooperation with authorities.
"We are in the process of reviewing the federal indictments announced today," the league said. "Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups are being placed on immediate leave from their teams, and we will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and the integrity of our game remains our top priority."
FBI Director Kash Patel quickly and forcefully rejected Smith’s theory during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle.
"That is the single dumbest thing that I have ever heard out of anyone in modern history, and I lived most of my time in Washington D.C.," Patel said. "It’s right up there with Adam Schiff. We arrest people for crimes."
Patel emphasized that the sprawling investigation was driven solely by criminal evidence, not politics, and involved charges of wire fraud, money laundering, extortion, robbery, and illegal gambling.