Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend the NBA Finals in New York. The president accepted an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan. He will watch Game 3 courtside at Madison Square Garden next week.
Donald Trump accepts invitation to NBA games
The Knicks, playing in their first Finals since 1999, hold a 1-0 series advantage over the San Antonio Spurs. New York’s dramatic 14-point comeback victory in Wednesday’s opener extended a flawless postseason record of 12 consecutive wins. Speaking on Thursday, Donald Trump confirmed his NBA game plans. “The answer is yes,” he said. “[Dolan] has invited me, and I’m going. I’ll be there. It could be Monday. Maybe I’ll do both [Game 3 and Game 4].”
Trump praised the Knicks for their resilience throughout the playoffs. “[The Knicks] find a way to do it,” he remarked. “They’re really great, a great team. I’m happy for Jim [Dolan] because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team.” His comments reflect the growing optimism surrounding a franchise chasing its first championship in more than five decades.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed Trump’s planned attendance while speaking at a community relations event in San Antonio. He characterised the visit as a positive development for the sport. “President Trump is very much a New Yorker,” Silver said. “I’m thrilled another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team.”
Silver pointed out that the appearance would be the first by a sitting president at an NBA Finals game during his commissionership, which dates back to 2014. He recalled Trump’s previous connections to the league, including attending multiple NBA drafts at Madison Square Garden and featuring in an “I love this game” promotional commercial produced by NBA Entertainment.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani separately told reporters he would also attend Game 3, sitting in a different section of the arena. “I can tell you that I’m planning to go to a Knicks game,” Mamdani said.
The Knicks host Game 3 on June 8, hoping to return home with a 2-0 series lead after Friday’s Game 2 in San Antonio.
