New Trump link in NBA gambling row; analyst says arrests part of ‘revenge’ plot amid protests

Stephen A Smith claimed that the arrests and charges are a part of President Trump's ‘revenge plot’ and a distraction amid nationwide No Kings protests.

Published on: Oct 24, 2025, 07:58:08 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The NBA gambling scandal has taken a surprising twist. Analyst and commentator Stephen A Smith on Thursday claimed that the arrests and charges are a part of President Donald Trump's ‘revenge plot’ and a distraction amid nationwide No Kings protests.

Donald Trump gestures during an announcement regarding his administration's policies against cartels (REUTERS)

Smith noted that he has never seen the FBI take such an action against sports entities. “I’m watching a press conference with the director of the FBI,” the ESPN host said soon after Kash Patel unveileved the arrests of 30 people, including Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier, ex-Cleveland Cavaliers star Damon Jones, and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

“Tell me when we’ve seen that,” Stephen A Smith further added.

LeBron James link

The accusations were not just limited to the 30 individuals. NBA legend and all-time scoring leader LeBron James was also dragged in. It was reported that Damon Jones allegedly used non-public information about the Los Angeles Lakers star to tip off a ‘co-conspirator’. However, LeBron has not been accused of any wrongdoing. He reportedly had no knowledge of any gambling activities.

Trump is ‘coming’

Stephen A Smith said that the league has ‘seen accusations before’. “We’ve seen athletes get in trouble with the law before. You don’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference. It’s not coincidental. It’s not an accident. It’s a statement, and it’s a warning that more is coming.”

Further speaking about Trump, the analyst said that this is ‘just the tip of the iceberg’.

“It’s very concerning. We don’t know where this is gonna go. But everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming.”

Trump has previously criticized the NBA, especially during the George Floyd protests when league players were kneeling during the national anthem.

“I think it’s disgraceful. We work with (the NBA). We work very hard trying to get them open. I was pushing them to get open. And then I see everyone kneeling during the anthem. It’s not acceptable to me," the president said back in 2020.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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