Donald Trump will attend at least one NBA finals game at Madison Square Garden next week, marking what the league believes would be the first time a sitting president has watched an NBA finals matchup in person.
The president confirmed the plan Thursday after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan. Trump, a self-described "big fan" of the team and its owner, said he is eyeing Game 3 on Monday but left the door open to catching Game 4 on Wednesday as well.
"The answer is yes, he's invited me, I'm going," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Maybe I'll do both."
Trump caught portions of Game 1 on Wednesday, when the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to take a 1-0 series lead. He acknowledged missing the middle stretches due to national security calls but praised the team's defensive performance against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
"I say, how do you guard this guy? He's 7ft 5in and he's got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it," Trump said. "They're really great."
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed enthusiasm about the prospect, recalling Trump's long history as a Knicks supporter dating back decades before his entry into politics.
"Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan," Silver said. "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden."
Silver seized on the moment to emphasize the unifying power of sports in a polarized era.
"We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart," the commissioner said. "We're seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I'm thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team."
The presidential visit will require significant security adjustments. Silver acknowledged that extra protective measures could create longer transit times and logistical challenges for regular fans, though he expressed confidence they would understand the necessity.
Trump will attend as Dolan's guest. A second prominent New York political figure, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has also announced plans to attend Monday's game. Mamdani said Thursday he will be purchasing his own ticket from the secondary market, where prices were exceeding $8,000 as of Thursday afternoon.
Mamdani suggested the two officials are unlikely to interact during the event. "I will be in a very different section," the mayor said at an unrelated news conference.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's presence at the Finals underscores how much the Knicks moment has transcended sports in New York right now."
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