Trump Confirms Plans to Attend NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden
President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intends to attend an NBA Finals game featuring his hometown team, the New York Knicks, who will face the winner of the Thunder-Spurs series. Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting, Trump stated, “I think I’ll be going to one of the games, I was invited by numerous people.” The president, a long-time Knicks supporter, is expected to return to Madison Square Garden in June to witness the championship series — a milestone the franchise and its fans have awaited since 1999, the last time the Knicks competed in the NBA Finals. “Great to see it,” Trump remarked about the team’s success. “The Knicks have really suffered for years.”
Trump’s Sporting Event Attendance Since Returning to Office
If the president follows through, the NBA Finals will join a growing list of major sporting events he has attended since his return to the White House. Last year, Trump was present at the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open men’s finals, the FIFA Club World Cup Final, the Ryder Cup, and several Ultimate Fighting Championship events. The New York Times first reported that Trump was considering attending the NBA Finals. Had the Knicks lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, Trump would have made a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden for Game 5, according to sources familiar with the planning. However, after the Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-90 on Monday evening, Trump shifted his focus to the NBA championship series. The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump’s Relationship with Knicks Owner James Dolan
Trump, who has a history of attending NBA games, also highlighted his strong relationship with James Dolan, the CEO and executive chairman of Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the Knicks. “I get along with Jim Dolan, and I think he’s a really nice guy, and he’s entitled to a good team because he’s suffered a little bit,” Trump told TalkRadio 77 earlier this month. He reiterated this bond on Wednesday, noting that Dolan personally invited him to watch the Knicks play. “He’s having a good year,” Trump said of Dolan. “Boy, what a team. They win all their games. They have some great players.”
Historical Context: Presidents and the NBA Finals
Trump’s potential appearance at the NBA Finals would make him the first sitting president to attend the championship series, following his precedent-setting attendance at the Super Bowl. Former President Barack Obama attended Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors, but he was out of office at the time. Former President George W. Bush attended Game 2 of the 1999 NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs while serving as governor of Texas. Trump’s history with the NBA includes frequent attendance at games in the 1990s and 2000s, often accompanied by his family. As president, he is more commonly seen at golf tournaments and UFC fights, but his long-standing fandom for the Knicks remains evident.
