The NBA Finals somehow just added another layer of chaos.
After attending Game 3 at Madison Square Garden and becoming the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game, Donald Trump was asked about comments made by Stephen A. Smith, who jokingly suggested Trump would be blamed if the Knicks lost.
Trump’s response immediately went viral.
“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I don’t really think Stephen A. Smith has that.”
And just like that, sports media may have found its newest feud.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for internet content. Stephen A. has spent years discussing politics more openly while also becoming one of the loudest voices in sports television. Recently, speculation around a potential political future for Smith has only grown after several viral interviews and appearances discussing national issues.
Trump clearly heard the noise.
The quote instantly exploded across social media Monday night, with fans already predicting Stephen A.’s response on ESPN will be absolute cinema.
And honestly… they’re probably right.
Because if there’s one thing Stephen A. Smith is not going to do, it’s quietly ignore a public shot at his intelligence from Donald Trump.
This is the same Stephen A. who can turn a random Tuesday morning rant about the Knicks into a ten-minute monologue with veins popping out of his forehead. Now imagine what happens when Trump calls him low IQ on national television.
First Take ratings may be about to go nuclear.
The funniest part is that the original exchange started over basketball. A reporter referenced Stephen A.’s joke that Trump might get blamed if the Knicks lost Game 3 after attending at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks did lose.
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs stunned New York 115-111, cutting the Finals series deficit to 2-1 and completely changing the energy of the championship matchup.
But somehow, by the end of the night, one of the biggest storylines wasn’t Wembanyama — it was Trump vs. Stephen A.
Social media immediately picked sides.
Some users laughed at Trump’s response and called it classic trolling. Others defended Stephen A., pointing out his rise from newspaper reporter to one of the most powerful media personalities in sports.
Either way, everyone seems to agree on one thing:
Stephen A. Smith is absolutely going to respond.
And when he does, it’s probably going to be loud.
