American columnist Jason Whitlock has called out fellow analyst Stephen A. Smith for his views on the recent gambling scandal that has plagued the NBA world. On Thursday, Oct. 23, reports showed that Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, and former Cleveland Cavaliers player Damon Jones are involved in the NBA gambling scandal.
On ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show,’ the analyst voiced his opinions on the matter. He said President Donald Trump is pursuing a proactive approach to halt all mafia and gambling affairs in the league, something that Whitlock disagreed with as he called out Smith.
“An NBA coach was arrested in a gambling scheme that involved mafia crime families and Stephen A’s takeaway is: ‘Trump is coming.’ When will conservative influencers quit propping up Stephen A Smith? Clown show,” Whitlock wrote on X.
An NBA coach was arrested in a gambling scheme that involved mafia crime families and Stephen A’s takeaway is: “Trump is coming.”
When will conservative influencers quit propping up Stephen A Smith? Clown show.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) October 23, 2025
Whatever the case may be with Whitlock’s stance on Smith, the NBA is moving towards the ongoing issue, and a couple of its key personnel’s careers may be in jeopardy. As reported by ESPN senior insider Shams Charania, both Billups and Rozier were arrested at 6 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Portland, Oregon, and in Orlando, Florida, respectively, where they were playing out their 2025-26 NBA season openers.
They were arrested with allegations of an illegal gambling probe, with Billups also facing allegations of an illegal poker operation that is tied to the mafia. The FBI continued with its arrests, which also involved former NBA player Damon Jones. Both Billups’ Trailblazers and Rozier’s Heat lost their first games of the year, 118-114 to the Minnesota Timberwolves and 125-121 to the Orlando Magic, respectively.
Read More: Jason Whitlock Highlights Unique Fact About Charlie Kirk And Stephen A. Smith Days After Tragic Incident
Stephen A. Smith Claims That Donald Trump Will Be Involved Since The NBA Is Facing A Big Issue
The quotes from Stephen A. Smith that got the attention of Jason Whitlock were when he said US President Donald Trump would address the NBA gambling scandal.
For Smith, this is a much bigger issue than basketball and has already seen events that have never happened before.
“ You do not see something like this happen. Even when the scandal came down the pike involving Tim Donnay, the former referee for the NBA, you didn’t see the director of the FBI having a press conference about it. But that’s what we saw this morning, and to me it comes down to this. Trump is coming. He’s coming. It’s not hyperbolic, it’s not hyperbole. I’m dead serious. He’s coming,” Smith said.
Trump is coming.
Full episode out on YouTube at 5pm EST! pic.twitter.com/XgAkGcYS2U
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) October 23, 2025
Also Read: Jason Whitlock Drops Blunt Take On James Franklin’s Sudden Firing From Penn State
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