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FBI Boss Slams ESPN Host For Insane Claim About NBA Sting

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Stephen A. Smith
Photo Credit: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The Trump administration clapped back on Thursday after ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith speculated that the FBI’s sweeping action against a Mafia-related gambling ring might have been politically driven.

On Thursday, the sports world was rocked when Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested, along with more than thirty other individuals, as part of a broad FBI investigation.

Rozier faces accusations of involvement in an illegal sports betting operation.

Billups is being charged under a separate indictment, related to alleged efforts to manipulate underground poker games.

At a news conference, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch provided details regarding Rozier’s alleged role.

“Using that information, members of the group placed more than $200,000 in wagers on his ‘under’ statistics. Rozier exited the game after just nine minutes, and those bets paid out, generating tens of thousands of dollars in profit,” she remarked.

“The proceeds were later delivered to his home, where the group counted their cash.”

Rozier is currently in the final year of a contract initially signed with the Hornets that is worth $96 million over four years.

Billups has led the Trail Blazers since 2021 and also coached his team during their 118-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

The FBI also detained former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Damon Jones as part of the investigation.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the arrests are the result of years of investigation covering eleven states.

“The schemes funded La Cosa Nostra, a collection of Mafia families,” Patel explained.

The Bureau reported that it had uncovered a Mafia-led gambling network which operated rigged poker games in Manhattan, the Hamptons, and Las Vegas, with connections to the Gambino, Bonanno, and Genovese crime families.

During Thursday’s press conference, authorities revealed threatening messages that were allegedly sent by Mafia members to victims tied to these operations.

Patel described the scope of the charges by saying, “The fraud is mind-boggling. It’s not hundreds of dollars, it’s not thousands of dollars, it’s not tens of thousands of dollars, it’s not even millions of dollars. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars in fraud and theft and robbery across a multiyear investigation.”

The indictments handed down include allegations of operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy charges involving wire fraud, money laundering, and extortion.

While the FBI provided details about these developments during a press conference, Stephen A. Smith used his platform on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ to suggest the investigation had political motivations connected to President Trump.

On the broadcast that coincided with the conference, Smith remarked that he was “not surprised” the indictment was announced soon after Bad Bunny was awarded the Super Bowl Halftime show and as the NBA season began.

“Bad Bunny is performing at the Super Bowl and all of a sudden you’re hearing ICE is going to be there looking to engage in mass deportations,” he began.

“The Super Bowl, disrupting things. Big night for the NBA, (Victor) Wembanyama put on a show… that has now been smeared because we’re talking about this story.

The ESPN star said that he wouldn’t be surprised if the WNBA was Trump’s next alleged target.

“When you’ve got all these protests going on out there, protesting against him… this man is coming, he’s coming. I’ve been saying it for a long time,” he ranted.

“For me, this is the latest nugget of evidence. That’s not to question the legitimacy of the case, we don’t know. But anybody that has been around him, anybody that has talked to him and seen his reactions, from the sports leagues… they are not surprised at what’s going on today.”

Smith commented that Patel’s press conference was not coincidental.

“It’s not an accident, it’s a statement… and it’s a warning that more is coming. In his eyes, folks tried to throw him in jail,” he concluded.

“In his eyes, he’s innocent and ‘they tried to put me behind bars. I’m getting everybody.’ He’s not playing. Everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming.”

Smith later attempted to clarify, stating, “I never denied or failed to mention that this FBI Investigation has been going on for years. I said Trump wasn’t inclined to stop it. He’s sparing no one because the man isn’t playing. He’s coming!!

https://x.com/stephenasmith/status/1981521861793005950

“In no way am I attempting to even have an opinion on the legitimacy of this matter,” he tweeted.

“I don’t know the facts of the case. I’m just saying don’t expect POTUS to spare anyone on this matter.”

FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking to Fox News following Smith’s commentary, responded scathingly.

“That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history and I live most of my time in Washington DC,” he shot back.

“I’m the FBI director. I decide which arrests to conduct and which not to conduct.”

Elsewhere, former NBA player Charles Barkley addressed the league’s connection to the betting investigation.

He clashed with fellow broadcaster Kenny Smith during an “Inside the NBA” panel on ESPN after Smith said gambling addiction could have played a role.

“You’re making me mad right here. This ain’t got nothing to do with addiction,” Barkley responded.

“These dudes are stupid. You can’t, under no circumstances, fix basketball games. Under no circumstances. I love to gamble.”

Kenny Smith argued that it was “illogical” for Rozier to risk so much for the amounts alleged, noting the player’s multi-million dollar salary.

“Rozier makes $26 million. Him giving people information or taking himself out of games, how much is he going to benefit taking himself out of games to hit unders? He’s making $26 million,” Barkley countered.

“The notion that guys are making all this money and giving information, stop that. That’s got nothing to do with addiction. It’s total stupidity on those two’s parts.”

Earlier in the program, Shaquille O’Neal also weighed in, saying, “You all know the rules, we all know the letter of the law, and it’s just unfortunate. Innocent until proven guilty, but usually when the FBI has something, they have you.”

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