Donald Trump said Wednesday he expects to attend the NBA Finals after the New York Knicks secured their spot in the championship series, citing a personal invitation from team owner James Dolan.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump praised both the Knicks and Dolan, who also owns Madison Square Garden and the NHL's Rangers. "Jim Dolan's great guy," Trump told reporters. "He's having a good year. Boy, what a team. They won all their games. They really have some great players." Trump said he had been invited by Dolan and "numerous" others.
The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games to reach the Finals, clinching with a 130-93 victory on Monday. They will face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the championship series. New York is scheduled to host Games 3, 4, and 6 on June 8, 10, and 16 respectively.
Trump had previously indicated he planned to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals had the series extended to Wednesday in New York, according to reporting Tuesday. That game never materialized once the Knicks wrapped up the series early.
Trump has become a fixture at major sporting events since his reelection. He attended last year's Super Bowl, the Club World Cup final, the US Open tennis tournament, the Daytona 500, and the Ryder Cup. This year alone he has made appearances at multiple golf tournaments and the college football national championship. The White House is also staging a UFC event next month.
No sitting U.S. president has ever attended an NBA Finals game.
Dolan and Trump have maintained a long-standing relationship, with the Knicks owner counted among Trump's friends and campaign donors in recent years. Trump is a native New Yorker with deep ties to the city's sports culture.
Author James Rodriguez: "Whether Trump actually shows up remains to be seen, but the gesture underscores how sports have become must-hit campaign stops for him."
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