ESPN Blows Off Massive FBI Presser on NBA Gambling Indictments — While All Major Cable News Nets Air It Live

(AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

The sports world was rocked by news on Thursday of an NBA coach, player, and others being arrested in a wide-ranging gambling fraud scheme, but sports channel ESPN had many scratching their heads when they decided not to carry the FBI press conference live.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were taken into custody by federal law enforcement on Thursday morning, shocking the sports world.

FBI Director Kash Patel and authorities detailed in a press conference just hours after the news that two major cases were being brought, one that involves using insider information to manipulate sports betting and another involving a rigged poker scheme across the country that was allegedly backed by New York mafia families.

More than 30 individuals have been arrested in relation to the cases and more arrests could be coming as the investigation continues.

Major networks like MSNBC, Fox News, and others carried Patel’s press conference live, considering the weight of the news and accusations, but if one were to pop on ESPN in the 10 a.m. hour, you’d find Stephen A. Smith and his panel discussing the NFL like it was any other day.

Smith did address the news following the press conference and argued on First Take that it is part of a larger revenge plan by President Donald Trump that he suggested could affect other sports leagues.

Pundits were floored by the fact that ESPN was not carrying the press conference. ESPN is financially involved with sports betting companies and has its own sportsbook.

“Wild to me [ESPN] didn’t take this press conference live or even discuss it so far,” Outkick’s Clay Travis wrote. He appeared on Fox News to give his take.

Smith claimed on his show that people need to “brace” themselves for similar stories to the NBA one, warning Trump “is coming.”

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s very concerning,” he said. “We don’t know where this is gonna go. But everybody better brace themselves, because he’s coming.”