Stephen A. Smith Stands Firm Amid Feud with FBI Director Kash Patel Over NBA Gambling Investigation
After a public conflict with FBI Director Kash Patel over a dramatic federal investigation into NBA-related illegal sports gambling, veteran sports broadcaster Stephen A. Smith refuses to back down. Smith believes the recent arrests and crackdown are political, suggesting former President Donald Trump is targeting leagues and personalities he considers enemies. Patel refused, calling Smith’s claims “the single dumbest thing” he’d ever heard.
Smith first raised eyebrows on “First Take,” telling viewers that more than 30 NBA-linked gambling scandal arrests were not a coincidence. He said that the inquiry has apparently been ongoing since 2019, spanning Biden and Trump administrations. Smith suggested that a president with strong links to the sports industry could use federal probes to “inconvenience” foes, including the WNBA.
On Fox News, Director Patel refuted Smith’s claim, saying FBI arrests are based on crime, not politics. Patel said he “decides which arrests to conduct and which not to conduct,” rejecting Smith’s claim that the inquiry was politically motivated. Patel said, “That may be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history.”
Smith reaffirmed his position. He said on Sirius XM that he respects Patel’s work and is “not about to argue with an FBI director,” but stands by his comments. Smith said he is used to being called wrong but later proven right. He emphasized his “not changing [his] mind.”
The dispute stems from NBA-related illegal poker and betting activities. The operation has detained or indicted prominent figures like Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier. Law enforcement sources said the network involved organized-crime groups and millions of dollars in illegal wagering.
The timing of the arrest announcement has drawn scrutiny. Smith said the FBI’s press announcement and the arrests’ timing during the NBA season supported his claim that this was a signal rather than an enforcement action. He claimed that the league’s brand and the Trump administration’s hostility toward some sports entities created a unique political atmosphere.
The feud raises questions about sports’ political role, law enforcement’s independence, and sports leagues’ responses to high-stakes investigations. Smith’s perspective blends sports media criticism with federal justice, while Patel’s emphasizes the FBI’s law-and-order approach.
The tale continues to unfold, including whether the enforcement action was coincidence or purposefully aligned with political interests and whether federal probes of this nature will increase sports enterprise monitoring. Smith promises additional “warning shots” but Patel maintains FBI impartiality. Both men are demarcating a potential turning point for sports integrity and government law enforcement oversight.
Sources
NY Post
The Daily Beast
Yahoo News
EurWeb
