“I love Israel”: Stephen A. Smith faces backlash after praising ‘Israel’ during NBA finals
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith drew criticism after saying “I love Israel” in an interview with Hebrew sports network Sport5 during the 2026 NBA Finals.
In the clip, which has amassed over two million views on X, Smith told the Hebrew outlet: “I love Israel and the people of Israel.”
He described ‘Israelis’ he has met as “nice” and “wonderful,” praised their competitiveness as basketball fans, and vowed to visit ‘Israel’ soon.
Stephen A. Smith:
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) June 13, 2026
“I love Israel and the people of Israel.” pic.twitter.com/zWRMvRLnmz
The comments, delivered amid the New York Knicks’ Finals run against the San Antonio Spurs, were quickly amplified by Hebrew media.
“I love Israel. The folks in Israel are great people, great basketball fans,” Smith said.
“I've been asked to come there on several occasions. One day, I'm going to make it my business to get there.”
“But everybody that I've ever met from Israel is wonderful. A bunch of nice, kind people. Go through a lot, obviously, and we understand that,” he added.
"But I want you to know people in America got love for y'all.”
The remarks triggered significant backlash online, particularly from users highlighting the ongoing ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza and in other countries.
Smith’s comments come at a sensitive time. The ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza since October 2023 has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties according to Gaza health authorities, widespread destruction, and international debates over ‘Israel’s’ military operations.
The episode echoes past controversies for Smith, including his public disputes with figures like Kyrie Irving over comments perceived as “antisemitic”.
