Trump plans to attend NBA Finals next week in New York

President Donald Trump is set to attend an NBA Finals game—or possibly two—next week in New York after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan.

“The answer is yes,” Trump confirmed on Thursday regarding his attendance at the league championship series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. “(Dolan) has invited me, and I’m going. I’ll be there. It could be Monday (for Game 3). Maybe I’ll do both (with Game 4 on Wednesday).”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that Trump’s presence would require additional security at Madison Square Garden but would not otherwise disrupt the event.

“I am sure there will be announcements about coming early,” Silver said. “But I think fans are very understanding of that. They recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”

If he attends, Trump would become the first sitting president to watch an NBA Finals game. The last sitting president to attend a regular-season NBA game was Barack Obama in 2015.

Silver emphasized the unifying power of sports. “I think sports in particular is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” he said. “It creates a sense of belonging. We’re seeing that in New York, and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker. I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and joy around this Knicks team.”

Trump was originally invited by Dolan to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals last month. However, the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games, advancing to their first NBA Finals since 1999.

New York now faces the Spurs, who previously won the Eastern Conference finals and are trying to prevent the Knicks from winning their first league title since 1973. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95 in Wednesday’s game, marking their 12th consecutive victory. They have the opportunity to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series on Friday.

“(The Knicks) find a way to do it,” Trump said Thursday. “They’re really great, a great team. I’m happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team.”

Throughout his presidency, Trump has attended numerous high-profile sporting events, including the Super Bowl, U.S. Open tennis, the Ryder Cup, and the Daytona 500. In November 2024, he attended a UFC event at Madison Square Garden.

A longtime New York resident, Trump has strong ties to the Knicks franchise and Dolan, who also oversees operations for the stadium and the NHL’s New York Rangers.

“Before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I’ve been with the league for a long time. I was 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, and he even appeared in one of our ‘I Love This Game’ spots back in 2004.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters