Trump says he'll attend NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden to cheer on Knicks

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump says he plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week as the New York Knicks continue their championship series against the San Antonio Spurs.

The president, a longtime Knicks supporter, confirmed that he accepted an invitation from team owner James Dolan and could attend either Game 3 on June 8 or Game 4 on June 10.

Trump says he'll be courtside for Knicks' title chase

Trump said he remains a devoted fan of both the franchise and its owner, adding that he has been following the team's playoff run closely despite a busy schedule that includes foreign policy challenges and domestic political battles.

Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said on Thursday, June 4, that he will be in the arena for at least one game next week.

The NBA believes it would make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

“The answer is yes, he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan's invitation.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn't rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I'll do both.”

Trump also revealed that he watched portions of Game 1 as the Knicks secured a victory to take an early lead in the series.

"I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant," he said. "Really amazing."

Trump praises Knicks and credits team for stopping Victor Wembanyama

While discussing his plans to attend, Trump offered his own analysis of the Knicks' performance and praised the team for overcoming an early challenge from the Spurs.

Asked about his plans for next week, Trump went on to offer his own game recap, giving nothing but praise for the Knicks.

Taking questions after an event on his administration's efforts to promote the US coal industry, the 79-year-old said it “wasn't looking good” for the Knicks early on but commended them for holding back Victor Wembanyama, the towering Spurs center.

“I say, how do you guard this guy? He's 7-foot-5 and he’s got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it. They're really great,” Trump expressed. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also welcomed the possibility of Trump's attendance, noting that the president was a regular Knicks fan long before entering 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."

The commissioner acknowledged that Trump’s presence will require extra security in and around Madison Square Garden. That would almost certainly mean longer transit times and logistical issues for fans.

“I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event."