If you come for Kash Patel, you’d best not miss.

On Thursday morning, the FBI director held a press conference to address the development after Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Heat guard Terry Rozier were both taken into custody.

The investigation, branded “Operation Royal Flush,” nabbed at least 31 individuals during a widespread FBI investigation involving sports betting. Authorities say the schemes defrauded victims out of tens of millions of dollars.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has his opinion on the matter. He claims Donald Trump is out for revenge, and people should watch out.

Smith stated how the President may target the women’s national basketball league next to distract from the recent anti-Trump protests that have been spreading across the country.

Kash Patel had a response to his statement.

FBI Director Kash Patel Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For His Dumb Statement

Sep 17, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; FBI Director Kash Patel testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., on Sept.17, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images
Kash Patel scolded Stephen A Smith after the ESPN star suggested the FBI’s investigation is politically motivated and backed by President Trump.

“I’m watching a press conference with the director of the FBI,”

“We’ve 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.” Smith said.

Patel hit back with a brutal put-down of the ESPN host when he told Fox News what Smith said:

“May be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever heard out of anyone in modern history. And I live most of my time in Washington, D.C.”

“It’s right up there with Adam Schiff. We arr3st people for crimes.”

“I’m the FBI director. I decide which arr3st to conduct and which not to conduct.”

Billups and Damon Jones were named in the poker game indictment as being used by the mob to draw in big spenders to their games. The games reportedly began in 2019 and were responsible for $7 million lost in the rigged games.

Terry Rozier is accused of being involved in a scheme to manipulate statistics so that his alleged co-conspirators could profit from prop bets, specifically during a game in 2023.

During the 2022-2023 season, he quickly exited a game after just nine minutes and did not return due to a reported foot issue. He did not play in another game that season.

An “unexpected” amount of bets came in on Rozier’s Under for that game.

A lot is still developing, and we should see more in the coming days. This should get very interesting.