Recent York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks to drive past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama throughout the first half of Game 1 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, a longtime Recent York Knicks fan, said he plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week on the invitation of the team’s owner.
Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said Thursday that he can be in the sector for at the least one game next week. The NBA believes it might make him the primary sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
“The reply is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan’s invitation. Chatting with reporters within the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn’t rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Perhaps I’ll do each.”
Trump, who’s concurrently contending with a war in Iran, strife in Congress and looming midterm elections, said he made sure to catch a few of Game 1 on Wednesday because the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs and took a 1-0 lead within the series.
“I missed the center because I refer to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the sport they usually were dominant,” Trump said. “Really amazing.”
Asked about his plans for next week, Trump went on to supply his own game recap, giving nothing but praise for the Knicks. Taking questions after an event on his administration’s efforts to advertise the U.S. coal industry, Trump 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 an awesome shot, right? But they discover a solution to do it. They’re really great.”
The NBA said it believes no other sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game. Earlier Thursday, Commissioner Adam Silver said some former presidents had attended. He recalled Trump as a Knicks fan long before his political profession.
“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was an enormous Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I used to be there at many Knicks games with him within the old days. He attended a lot of our drafts once they used to happen at Madison Square Garden.”
Silver reiterated a message he conveyed Wednesday amid reports that Trump might attend — that sports may be unifying, even in deeply divided political times.
“We are able to emphasize what we now have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in Recent York and I believe President Trump may be very much a Recent Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet one more Recent Yorker desires to take part in the passion and the enjoyment around this Knick team.”
The commissioner acknowledged that Trump’s presence would require extra security in and around Madison Square Garden. That might almost definitely mean longer transit times and logistical issues for fans.
“I believe the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I believe they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”