FBI Director Kash Patel disputed ESPN pundit Stephen A. Smith’s claim that the timing of a major sports betting investigation was politically motivated.
Patel on Thursday announced 34 individuals had been arrested and charged in connection to wide-ranging investigations into rigged poker schemes and illegal sports betting on NBA games. Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier were among those detained and indicted.
Smith questioned the timing of the sting operation, which came during the opening week of the NBA regular season, and whether President Donald Trump had directed his hand-picked FBI chief to send a statement to pro leagues that had drawn his ire in the past.
“It’s not coincidental, it’s not an accident,” Smith said Thursday on ESPN’s “First Take” program. “It’s a statement, and it’s a warning that more is coming. ... (Trump is) coming. He’s coming.”
Patel later ripped the ESPN pundit over his comments, saying the FBI investigation had been underway since 2019.
“That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history,” he said on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News program, “and I live most of my time in Washington, D.C.”
Billups, Rozier and the other individuals arrested in connection to the two federal cases face charges of money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the sports betting plot involved players deliberately altering their performance or removing themselves from games to influence outcomes, and then funneling that information to co-conspirators. The defendants also allegedly misused confidential information they got directly from NBA players and coaches.
Billups was indicted on charges of facilitating the rigging of underground poker games that were organized by the Bonanno, Genovese, Lucchese and Gambino crime families – four of the five major Sicilian mafias operating out of New York City.
Despite the serious charges, Smith said he still found the situation unusual.
“We’ve seen accusations before,” he said. “We’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference.”
Trump has been at odds with the NBA for years.
The president has issued scatching criticisms over the league’s approach to social justice issues, including its Black Lives Matter demonstrations and key economic relationship with China. And Trump has previously insulted the intelligence of longtime face of the NBA LeBron James and verbally sparred with prominent coaches like Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich.
Smith alleged that Trump’s long history of slamming the NBA and its stars played a role in Patel announcing the sting operation and arrests two days after the NBA opened its 2025-26 season.
“And don’t be surprised if the WNBA is next on his list,” Smith said on “First Take” Thursday. “Talk to people in the NBA. Talk to people in the NFL. Talk to people in the world of sports. They think this is like the tip of the iceberg. These are the kind of words that are coming out of peoples’ mouths.”
Smith issued a response to Patel late Thursday on social media.
“I never denied or failed to mention that this FBI Investigation has been going on for years,” Smith wrote in a post on X. “I said Trump wasn’t inclined to stop it. He’s sparing no one because the man isn’t playing. He’s coming!!
Smith continued: “In no way am I attempting to even have an opinion on the legitimacy of this matter. I don’t know the facts of the case. I’m just saying don’t expect POTUS to spare anyone on this matter. And I stand by that. That’s all!”
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