WFAN host Boomer Esiason pushed back Thursday against First Take’s Stephen A. Smith, who recently suggested President Donald Trump was responsible for the timing of the FBI’s investigation into gambling activities involving current and former NBA players and coaches.
Esiason, speaking on his radio program, said he had not seen Smith’s full segment but had read reports of the comments.
“I did not see it, I only read about it, and I haven’t seen the video yet, but I guess Stephen A. Smith is blaming Donald Trump for the arrest of all these people that are attached to the NBA. Both in the card and poker world and also in the rosier gambling and throwing game world,” Esiason said.
The former NFL quarterback called the claim “ridiculous.” Then questioned why anyone would think the president had orchestrated the investigation.
“The fact that you would actually even think that Donald Trump is doing this when these guys are doing it to themselves. The integrity of the league is at stake here,” he said. “I mean, I don’t know how big this thing is.”
The FBI investigation, which has drawn national attention, involves multiple NBA figures alleged to have engaged in gambling violations. These include poker games and other wagering tactics tied to professional basketball. The timing of arrests and announcements of findings has fueled speculation in sports and political media alike.
Esiason emphasized that the process of determining arrests in federal investigations is independent of political influence. He referenced comments from FBI Director Kash Patel, who stated that law enforcement decisions are made internally and are not directed by former presidents or political leaders.
“Kash Patel goes on to say, ‘I decide which arrest to make, and that’s the way it’s going to be. Nobody tells me who to arrest or when to arrest somebody,’” Esiason noted.
The WFAN host stressed the importance of holding individuals accountable for their own actions rather than attributing legal consequences to external political forces.
“The last thing I think Donald Trump is doing is calling up Kash Patel saying, ‘Go after the NBA players.’ That is so far out in left field that it’s ridiculous,” he said.
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