Stephen A. Smith Defends Knicks Curse Blame on Trump

WHO:

The Daily Beast - Stephen A. Smith, Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump

Fox News - Stephen A. Smith, President Donald Trump

WHAT:

The Daily Beast - Stephen A. Smith blamed Trump for the New York Knicks losing Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Daily Beast - Trump was booed upon his arrival at Madison Square Garden and during the national anthem.

The Daily Beast - Smith stated that Trump’s attendance disrupted the Knicks' momentum, which had been strong leading up to the finals.

Fox News - Smith refused to apologize for his comments and reiterated his stance on Hannity's show.

Fox News - The Knicks have not won a championship in over 53 years.

WHERE:

The Daily Beast - Madison Square Garden, New York City

Fox News - Surrounding streets near Madison Square Garden were shut down due to Trump's visit.

WHEN:

Fox News - Game 3 of the NBA Finals took place on June 8, 2026.

The Daily Beast - Trump is set to turn 80 on an upcoming Sunday.

WHY:

The Daily Beast - Smith believes Trump's presence at the game negatively affected the Knicks' performance and momentum.

Fox News - Smith criticized the logistics of Trump's visit, suggesting it was self-serving and disrupted fan enthusiasm.

HOW:

The Daily Beast - Smith expressed his views during an appearance on Hannity, emphasizing the impact of Trump's attendance on the game atmosphere.

Fox News - Smith highlighted the disruption caused by the presidential visit, which included the cancellation of outdoor watch parties.

(UPDATED June 13, 2026 04:23 UTC)

Stephen A. Smith has publicly blamed President Trump for the New York Knicks' loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, claiming that Trump's attendance disrupted the team's momentum. Upon arriving at Madison Square Garden, Trump faced boos from the crowd, and Smith emphasized that the logistics of the visit negatively impacted the game atmosphere, even leading to the cancellation of outdoor watch parties. Despite the backlash, Smith stood firm in his comments during an appearance on Hannity's show and refused to apologize for his stance.