WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to attend at least one NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week after receiving an invitation from team owner James Dolan.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was considering attending Game 3 on Monday or Game 4 on Wednesday.
“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan’s invitation. “Maybe I’ll do both.”
Trump, who described himself as a longtime fan of the New York Knicks, said he watched part of Game 1 on Wednesday, in which the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to take a 1-0 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,” Trump said.
The president also praised the Knicks’ defense against Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
Asked about his plans for next week, Trump said the Knicks had overcome an early challenge in the game and credited the team for limiting Wembanyama’s impact.
The National Basketball Association said it believes Trump would become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game.
Earlier Thursday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said former presidents had attended NBA Finals games but noted that Trump had been a 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.”
Silver also said Trump’s attendance would require additional security measures at the arena, which could affect travel and access 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.”
