Donald Trump claps back at Stephen A. Smith after Game 3 of NBA Finals

Donald Trump did not hold back in his response to ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith following a tense Monday night matchup during the NBA Finals. The jab came after Smith publically stated he would blame the president if the New York Knicks fell to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3.

The Aftermath of Game 3

As it turned out, the Knicks did suffer their first loss in 46 days, falling 115-111 to the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama proved to be the difference-maker, dropping 32 points with eight rebounds and six assists to shrink the Knicks' series lead to 2-1.

Regarding Smith's earlier comments, Trump told reporters, "I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I don’t think Stephen has that. I don’t that he does actually."

The President at the Arena

Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. The appearance drew sharp criticism from Smith, who labeled the president "selfish," "narcissistic" and "ridiculous" in a critique reported by 205focus.com.

"If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I’m blaming him," Smith said before tip-off. "I’m blaming the president of the United States! And damnit, I hope the GOP loses votes because of it if we lose tonight!"

Knicks' Streak Snapped

The loss halted a dominant 13-game winning streak for New York—the second-longest in NBA postseason history. The team had been eyeing their first championship since 1973, but missed the opportunity to put a stranglehold on the series. Prior to Monday night, the Knicks had been undefeated since an April 23 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, having swept through Philadelphia and Cleveland before taking the first two games against San Antonio.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.