TV personality and NBA commentator Stephen A. Smith has launched a fresh attack on Donald Trump following the pair’s public spat over the president’s attendance at the New York Knicks’ historic title win this weekend.

A host of celebrities were spotted taking in Mike Brown’s side’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs across the five-game series. Among them were Timothee Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Taylor Swift, who were seen at Madison Square Garden and the Frost Bank Center as they witnessed the Knicks secure their first NBA championship in 53 years.

The triumph was made even sweeter by the manner in which it was achieved, with New York overturning the biggest deficit in NBA Finals history in Game 4 after trailing by 29 points.

Stephen A. Smith Attacks Trump Over NBA Finals Appearance

Needless to say, celebrations in the Big Apple haven’t always been as well-received, with the NYPD still investigating incidents including vandalism, fan violence, theft and viral videos that appeared to show Victor Wembanyama and his teammates having eggs thrown at them. But another point of controversy was a viral video of Trump falling asleep during the hair-raising Game 3.

Smith hammered on the president over the incident that saw Trump appearing with his eyes closed in his seat at Knicks owner James Dolan’s private box at Madison Square Garden, according to The Hill. “He was caught napping, OK? And so … it is what it is. But he is the president. He’s got a lot on his plate. He certainly gets up early enough in the morning, and he certainly has time to post tweets on his Truth Social platform.”

He previously said the 80-year-old should never have attended Game 3, and he should have stayed “his a– at the White House.” He first accused Trump of sleeping at the game on Tuesday, telling the audience of ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday that the “brother wasn’t awake.”

“Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe’?” Smith said on the show. “Well, what should we call you? Because you weren’t awake.”

Latest Spat is a Continuation of Previous Hostilities

Smith added on Sunday that he’s open to debating President Trump amid their feud over the president’s presence at the NBA Finals. He has suggested that the two debate one another over policies and issues. The president, however, has accused the commentator of being a “low IQ individual” who would get “annihilated in a debate.”

“But when he wants to sit up there and question my IQ and talk to me about people that would smoke meat in a debate, well, why don’t you do it yourself?” Smith said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“Why defer to anybody else? Because I’d be more than happy to sit across from the president and debate some of the decisions that he’s made.” Smith added that he’s “not interested in running” for president. “I like my job, like my money, and I’m not giving it up to campaign for higher office,” he said.

“But I would certainly say that if you really, really want to be serious about questioning somebody’s IQ, put me at the same table as you, and we could have a discussion in front of the masters about some decisions you’ve made on behalf, supposedly, of the American people,” Smith reiterated. “And we’ll see where my IQ lands then.”

England open their 2026 World Cup campaign with a clash against Croatia at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, but Thomas Tuchel won’t be happy to see who the referee is for the 2018 semi-final repeat.

The Three Lions will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L as they look to end a 60-year drought when it comes to major silverware. If they are to do so and lift the World Cup, they’d be making history in the process.

No World Cup-winning manager has been foreign to the nation they managed to glory. Tuchel, as a German managing England, would be the first-ever case if he brings football home.

Thomas Tuchel’s Angry History With World Cup Ref

Nathan Ray Seebeck via Reuters

The German tactician has already had a furious run-in with the appointed referee for the World Cup encounter on Wednesday night. French official Clement Turpin even sent the England boss off in a match while he was at Bayern Munich.

During a 2023 Champions League quarter-final loss against Manchester City, Tuchel was livid with the officiating and was sent to the stands after picking up two yellow cards. He then went on a rant about Turpin, who had booked five players in the first half and sent off Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano – a decision that VAR overturned.

The former Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund manager made his feelings about the referee very clear after the game, labelling the 44-year-old ‘terrible’. He even gave him a ‘1/10’ rating, as he fumed (per The Sun):

England’s Results Under ‘1/10’ Referee

Image via Reuters/Nathan Ray Seebeck

Turpin, voted the world’s best referee in 2025, has been in the middle for six England matches in the past. The most notable being a humiliating 4-0 Nations League defeat by Hungary.

He was also the referee in the Three Lions’ goalless draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024. He was there for the 5-0 win against Serbia in late 2025, meaning he’s already encountered Tuchel since their heated meeting in 2023. England won the other three matches Turpin officiated comfortably.

Should there be a controversial incident against Croatia, it may be worth keeping an eye on Tuchel’s reaction. Turpin is generally seen as one of the best referees around, but clearly has history with the England manager.

Tottenham Hotspur are working on a quick deal for Manchester City forward Savinho as they close in on making another double signing for Roberto De Zerbi, according to Football Insider.

Even though the summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until Monday, Tottenham have already completed two signings for De Zerbi ahead of next season as they look to take a significant step after two successive 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.

Spurs have added experienced defensive duo Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi to their ranks, to boost a backline that has conceded 183 goals in the previous three Premier League campaigns.

The north London outfit’s business at the back hints at a major departure at the heart of the defence, with two prime candidates to go if recent reports are to be believed.

Brighton and Hove Albion have lodged a £30m bid for 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic, who is keen on a move to the Amex Stadium to work under Fabian Hurzeler and play regular first-team football.

Captain Cristian Romero has been linked with a move away for months, and appears more likely to go than Micky van de Ven, who GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs believes is more likely to sign a new contract than leave.

Tottenham Working on Fast Savinho Signing

via Reuters

Tottenham have been tracking Manchester City winger Savinho for more than a year now, and they are making a second attempt to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after failing with a move last summer.

Fabrizio Romano reported earlier this month that Spurs are making ‘progress’ over a deal to bring the Brazilian to London, and now Football Insider claim that talks are expected to progress quickly with the ‘extraordinary’ 22-year-old determined to join De Zerbi’s side.

A transfer from City to Tottenham was blocked by City chiefs last summer, but after limited starts this term he is now keen to leave the Etihad in search of more regular minutes.

City are willing to reach an agreement with Tottenham that works for everybody involved, with Spurs chiefs now confident of sealing their third signing of the summer.

A bid of around £60m would likely be accepted by City, with Spurs now lining up a move that matches that value.

Tottenham ‘Closer’ to Jan Paul Van Hecke Agreement

via Reuters

As well as Savinho, Tottenham are working simultaneously on a deal to bring Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to the club.

De Zerbi is clearly keen to add another centre-back to his ranks ahead of next season, even after the Senesi deal, although the Seagulls have a high valuation for the Dutchman even though he has just one year remaining on his contract on the south coast.

Reports out of the Netherlands in recent days suggested that a deal for Van Hecke was getting ‘closer and closer’, as ENIC continue to flex their muscles in the transfer market.

Football Insider claim Spurs are about to launch a third £55m bid for the Dutch international, who kicks off his World Cup campaign against Japan on Sunday night.

Tottenham were further boosted on Sunday by the news that right-back Pedro Porro has signed a new and improved five-year deal to stay at the club.