President Donald Trump is going to the NBA Finals — and he has opinions on Victor Wembanyama. The 47th president confirmed on Thursday that Knicks owner James Dolan invited him to attend home games at Madison Square Garden, and that he accepted. Game 3 is scheduled for Monday June 8th, with Game 4 to follow on Wednesday June 10th. Trump left the door open to attending both.
If Trump takes his seat at MSG on Monday, he will become the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is not just comfortable with the moment — he is enthusiastic about it.
“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, 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 described himself as “thrilled” that Trump plans to attend, framing the moment through the lens of what sport does best. “Sports, in particular, is something where we can emphasise what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. 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 joy around this Knick team.”
Trump on Wembanyama — and the Knicks’ Remarkable Run
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was asked about the series between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs following New York’s 10-point Game 1 victory on Wednesday night. He admitted he missed the middle portion — “I talk to generals all night long now” — but caught the end and was impressed.
His assessment of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama was delivered with characteristic directness. “Wemby is a great player. I say: how do you guard this guy? Seven-foot-five and he’s got a great shot, right?” He then answered his own question: “They find a way to do it. They’re a great team.”
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Trump’s praise extended to Knicks owner James Dolan, who has spent decades trying to build a championship contender at one of the most scrutinised franchises in professional sports. “Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team,” Trump said. “He’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing.”
The Knicks are playing their first home NBA Finals games since 1999. They have won 12 consecutive playoff games dating back to their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks and sit three wins away from their first championship since 1973 — a 53-year drought that has tested the patience of one of the most passionate fanbases in sport.
What Trump’s Attendance Means for Fans at MSG
Presidential attendance brings additional security protocols that will affect the experience inside and outside the arena. Silver acknowledged the logistical reality without concern. “There should be extra security for the president of the United States to be at a game, but I think the fans are very understanding of that. I think they recognise that it adds to the bigness of the event.”
Fans heading to MSG for Game 3 or Game 4 should expect longer entry times and expanded security perimeters. The tickets themselves are already among the most expensive in recent sports history. With a 12-game winning streak, a 53-year title drought, and a sitting president in the front of house, Madison Square Garden on Monday night will be one of the most electric venues in American sports this decade.
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