Donald Trump said he plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week after receiving an invitation from New York Knicks owner James Dolan. Trump, a longtime Knicks fan, told reporters on Thursday that he expects to be in the arena for at least one game and may attend both Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday. He said, “The answer is yes – he’s invited me, I’m going,” and described himself as a “big fan” of both the team and Dolan.
Trump said he watched part of Game 1 on Wednesday, when the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to take a 1-0 series lead. He praised the team’s performance and said they did a strong job slowing Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, calling the Knicks “really great” and saying they had found a way to defend a player who stands 7 feet 5 inches and has an impressive shot.
The NBA said it believes Trump would be the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game. Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier Thursday that former presidents have attended games before and recalled that Trump was a Knicks fan long before entering politics. Silver said he had seen Trump at many Knicks games in the past and at NBA drafts held at Madison Square Garden.
Silver also said sports can bring people together, even in politically divided times. He said the Knicks’ success has created a sense of excitement in New York and welcomed Trump’s attendance as part of that atmosphere. At the same time, he acknowledged that a sitting president’s visit would require additional security around Madison Square Garden, likely causing longer transit times and logistical challenges for fans.
Trump’s planned appearance would not be the only high-profile political presence at the arena. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also said he intends to attend Monday’s game, though he noted he would likely be seated in a different section and would not cross paths with Trump. Mamdani’s office said he would pay for his own ticket, which was selling for more than $8,000 on the secondary market Thursday afternoon.
The NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden mark the first championship series games at the arena since 1999, adding further significance to an already high-profile event. With a former president, a sitting mayor and one of the league’s most recognizable teams involved, next week’s games are expected to draw intense attention both on and off the court.
