Stephen A. Smith’s latest remarks on ESPN’sFirst Take have reignited a heated debate over President Donald Trump’s complicated relationship with professional sports. Following Thursday’s FBI arrests of NBA figures Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups on gambling-related charges, Smith suggested the move could be part of a larger “revenge” campaign by Trump targeting critics within the sports world.
His warning was chillingly direct: “Trump is coming.”
Trump is coming.
Full episode out on YouTube at 5pm EST! pic.twitter.com/XgAkGcYS2U
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 23, 2025
Stephen A. Smith Ominously Warns Trump ‘Coming’ for Sports
President Donald Trump and Analyst Stephen A. Smith. Photo credits: Imagn
President Donald Trump and Analyst Stephen A. Smith. Photo credits: Imagn
Smith argued that the timing and scale of the arrests point to political undertones, describing them as “a nugget of evidence” in a broader campaign to punish leagues that have publicly opposed the president.
“Anybody who has seen his reactions from the sports leagues and the positions people have taken ,they are not surprised at what’s going on today,”Smith said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
The FBI’s gambling probe has uncovered a multimillion-dollar operation allegedly tied to mob-linked poker schemes, with over 30 individuals arrested. According to Smith, Trump’s prior history with casino ownership and long-standing disputes with major sports leagues, most notably the NFL, could be shaping how his administration views such investigations. Smith cautioned that the NBA bust might not be isolated. “Don’t be surprised if the WNBA is next on his list,” he said, referencing the league’s outspoken protests against Trump during his first term.
The speculation came hours after FBI Director Kash Patel publicly denied any political motive behind the arrests, calling Smith’s theory “the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history.” Yet, Smith doubled down, saying the high-profile press conference was a warning signal. He connected it to previous Trump-era threats to disrupt the Super Bowl after Bad Bunny’s halftime booking, arguing that “the statement is the message.”
Trump’s tense history with the NFL and other leagues stretches back decades. His failed 1980s bid to merge the USFL with the NFL, frequent criticism of player protests, and public battles with league owners all contribute to what Smith describes as a “decades-long grudge” now resurfacing in real time.
Social media erupted after Smith’s comments went viral.One fanon X wrote,“The investigation began under Biden.”
Anotheradded,“Wasn’t the investigation ongoing well before Trump came into office?”
Others speculatedabout deeper ties:“The focus should be on the fact that the MOB was involved. WAKE UP!”
While the administration has declined to comment, Smith’s warning has already set off a storm of speculation across sports media and political circles alike. Whether coincidence or conspiracy, Thursday’s arrests have once again placed Trump’s uneasy history with America’s most powerful leagues back under the national spotlight.