Stephen A. Smith clapped back at President Donald Trump after Trump questioned his IQ following the New York Knicks’ Game 3 loss at Madison Square Garden.
The ESPN commentator answered on First Take, one morning after the Knicks fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, and Trump took a swipe at Smith’s past talk of a possible presidential run.
“You wanna talk about IQ,” Smith said. “I could put my IQ against yours.”
The mini feud ignited before Game 3, when Smith said he did not want Trump at Madison Square Garden for the Knicks’ first NBA Finals game at home in 27 years. Smith had warned that he would blame Trump if New York lost. After the Knicks did lose, Trump dismissed Smith as a political prospect, calling him a “nice guy” but suggesting he lacked the intelligence to run for president.
“I got something even better — I could ask you why you’ve been running from me for the past year since I asked you to talk to me,” Smith said in response. “I could ask you to debate me since you think you’re that dude. We could go a myriad of ways.”
Smith also blamed Trump’s visit for changing the feel around the Garden. Security was increased due to the president’s attendance, and Smith said the scene around the arena became more difficult for fans and businesses.
“From 6th Avenue to 9th Avenue, you had people complaining about how hectic it was,” Smith said. “Because this barricade, this blockage, this wall that was being built by folks for the Garden because of the climate that existed.”
Trump watched the game with Knicks owner James Dolan from a specially built luxury box behind bulletproof glass. Smith later joked that the president “wasn’t awake” during the game.
He also blamed Trump for the Knicks’ stars going cold.
“Brunson played better when you weren’t there. Bridges played better when you weren’t there. Karl-Anthony Towns played better when you weren’t there. Landry Shamet played better when you weren’t there,” Smith said.
Game 4 is expected to come without Trump in the building.