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Stephen A. Smith does not want President Trump to attend game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that he would be attending game 3 at Madison Square Garden, and possibly game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Trump says he’s going to an NBA Finals game at MSG next Monday, and he might be there for Game 4 too pic.twitter.com/xjgxH5s53s
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 4, 2026
During his radio show, Smith said that he doesn’t want Trump at Madison Square Garden.
Via Awful Announcing
He’s coming to Game 3 of the Finals, and I don’t want him there,” Smith said on his SiriusXM show. “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. If it were Barack Obama coming to the Garden, I would say, ‘Stay home.’ Stay at the White House.”
Smith explains that Trump’s appearance will be a headache for fans trying to enjoy the game.
“You don’t understand what Monday is going to be like in New York City,” Smith continued. “The subways will never be more packed. Don’t drive your cars in Midtown. It will be a parking lot. There is nothing short of madness that is coming the way of everybody come Monday. You don’t understand! 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.”
While Smith is imploring Trump to stay away from MSG, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is excited to have the President attend the Finals.
“President Trump is very much a New Yorker. I’m thrilled another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team.”