Stephen A. Smith Doesn't Want President Trump Attending Game 3 Of NBA Finals

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith isn't thrilled about President Donald Trump taking an interest in this year's NBA Finals.

Trump confirmed on Thursday that he'll attend Game 3 of the Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. The president of the United States claims he received an invitation to Madison Square Garden from Knicks owner James Dolan.

After watching the Knicks steal Game 1 on the road, Trump is excited to support his hometown team.

"I watched the end of the game – they were dominant," Trump said. "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."

During the latest edition of "The Stephen A. Smith Show," the longtime ESPN personality made it known that he doesn't want to see Trump at Madison Square Garden.

"He's coming to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and I don't want him there," Smith said. "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 said he'd have the same take if former President Barack Obama was planning a trip to MSG.

"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."

Stephen A. Smith isn't the only person critical of the president.

Hakeem Jeffries, who has served as House minority leader since 2023, went on CNN to complain about Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

"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," Jeffries said. "Seriously? Give us a break. Why doesn't he just focus on trying to improve the quality of life for American people."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, meanwhile, is welcoming the president of the United States with open arms.

"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.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals will take place on June 8 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 11:00 PM.