Stephen A. Smith said he “don’t want” President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8. Smith insisted his stance isn’t political, after he was criticized for not objecting to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending g
Stephen A. Smith isn’t mincing words as the Knicks push deeper into their historic run.
On his SiriusXM show, the ESPN commentator said he didn’t want President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, set for June 8. “He’s coming to Game 3 of the finals, and I don’t want him there.”
Smith admitted the reason sounded simple: he fears the presence of the president could throw off the atmosphere around the Knicks as fans line up for something special in one of the NBA’s biggest stages. “It has nothing to do with politics, policy or anything like that,” Smith said. “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.”.
He even drew a comparison meant to remove any doubt about motives, adding: “If it were [former President] Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home. Stay at the White House,’” Smith said.
After the clip went viral, the pushback came fast—and Smith answered it with his own kind of heat. He accused critics of spotting a double standard, pointing to the fact he had not objected to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attending games.
Smith replied: “Grow the Hell up! I have a problem with any politician — any politician — that shows up, causes delays and interferes with these watch parties buzzing all over NYC.”
He continued, “It’s not political. It’s about the @nyknicks and the vibe this city has going. Anyone who messes with that needs to not show up. It’s not about politics. Take that [bull] somewhere else. Not today. Not now!”
That argument lands in the middle of real momentum for the team. President Donald Trump is weighing an appearance at the finals in New York. and he has been considering a visit since the Knicks clinched a championship spot against the San Antonio Spurs. The president previously missed an opportunity to watch the Knicks during the Eastern Conference Finals.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump said he originally planned to attend a game in the earlier series but had to move past it when his hometown team finished quickly. “I was invited to that,” Trump said. “I was going to go … but they closed it out very quickly.”
Trump’s tone turned into praise when he talked about the Knicks themselves. He complimented owner James Dolan and the team’s postseason success, saying: “Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games.”
He also said he was glad to see the franchise thriving after years of disappointment. “It’s great to see it,” Trump said. “The Knicks have really suffered for years. They’re doing right now very good.”
Heading into Game 3 of the series on June 8, the Knicks hold a 2-0 lead over the Spurs. New York carried that edge after winning Game 1 105-95 and then taking Game 2 by a single point, 105-104. The wins stretched into an impressive 13-game postseason winning streak.
So as Madison Square Garden prepares for another swing of the Finals, the debate over who should—or shouldn’t—walk through its doors is already part of the story, long before the opening tip.
Stephen A. Smith Donald Trump Knicks NBA Finals Madison Square Garden Game 3 Zohran Mamdani James Dolan San Antonio Spurs