ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is making it crystal clear: he does not want President Donald Trump anywhere near the NBA Finals. Trump confirmed he'll attend Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden, but Smith says that's a terrible idea.
On his show, Smith didn't mince words: “He’s coming to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and I don’t want him there. It has nothing to do with politics, policy, or anything like that. It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to be existing at Madison Square Garden.”
Smith even said he'd feel the same way if former President Barack Obama were planning a visit. “If it were Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home.’ Stay at the White House… I have been covering sports for over 30 years. And I’m telling you right now, come Monday, for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, I expect to see an environment I have never seen in my entire career covering sports.”
Smith isn't alone in his opposition. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted the president's appearance on CNN, asking, “Why does Donald Trump always have to ruin a good thing? The Knicks haven’t been in the NBA Finals for 27 years, the city is trying to celebrate this, we’ve embraced this team, and this guy has to inject himself. Seriously? Give us a break. Why doesn’t he just focus on trying to improve the quality of life for American people.”
Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is rolling out the red carpet. “We’re seeing that in New York, and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team,” Silver said, echoing the sentiment that Trump's presence could be a unifying moment for the city.
Trump, who watched the Knicks steal Game 1 on the road, is excited to support his hometown team. He praised rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama, saying, “Wemby’s a great player. He’s going to be a great player and he is already a great player. I said, ‘How do you guard this guy? He’s 7-foot-5 and has a great shot.’ But they found a way to do it. They’re a great team.”
Game 3 tips off June 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET. With the Knicks up 2-0 in the series, the atmosphere at the Garden is already electric. But Smith warns that Trump's arrival could turn the energy into something far less celebratory, especially given the fan incidents already seen in Game 1.
The debate over Trump's attendance has split opinions, but one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Madison Square Garden come Monday night.
