On Monday, President Donald Trump plans to be at Madison Square Garden to witness Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs will face off against the New York Knicks, his favored team.
Shams Charania from ESPN confirmed Trump’s attendance, a possibility the President hinted at following the Knicks’ decisive victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Trump mentioned he received an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan to attend one of New York’s home games. Although Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected at the game, he informed TMZ that he will not be sitting with Trump. Typically, Mamdani has been spotted in the upper sections of the arena when attending games.
The Knicks currently lead the series 1-0 after a thrilling comeback against the Spurs in San Antonio on Wednesday night. The next face-off, Game 2, is set for Friday, with a start time of 8:30 PM EST.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his support for Trump’s presence at Monday’s game, noting the President’s long-standing fandom for the Knicks.
“Before entering politics, he was a huge Knicks fan,” Silver remarked about Trump. “I’ve been with the league for many years and remember him at numerous Knicks games and drafts at Madison Square Garden. He even featured in one of our ‘I Love This Game’ commercials when I was overseeing NBA entertainment.”
Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump are both expected to be at Monday’s Game 3 at MSG
While Trump could find his way to celebrity row, Mamdani is expected to be in the nosebleeds
Mamdani has been enjoying the Knicks’ run as much as anyone. While New Yorkers have poured into the streets during their ongoing 12-game playoff winning streak, their Mayor playfully invited Spurs center Victor Wembanyama to a Monday hearing in the city.
‘I’m pleased to invite @Wemby to our second Commission on Government Efficiency hearing on Wednesday June 10th 5-8pm, where we’ll be asking the public for their thoughts on how government can run better,’ Mamdani wrote. ‘Would love to have you there for the whole time!’
That hearing is scheduled to end just as Game 3 of the Finals tips off at MSG.
Mamdani would certainly welcome the 7ft 5in reigning Defensive Player of the Year for the hearing, but his post was an obvious joke that seemed lost on a number of NBA fans.
‘Wemby is not a Knick, not a New Yorker, and not even an American,’ one irate fan wrote on X. ‘Wtf is this.’
‘Wait isn’t that a game day?’ another asked.
One particularly lost fan suggested Mamdani invite someone from the home team instead: ‘Why wemby? Why not a Knick?’
Of course, a great number of Knicks fans were happy to play along in the pre-game euphoria ahead of the Finals opener.
‘Wemby, when the NYC mayor invites you to something you do not turn it down,’ one fan wrote to Western Conference Finals MVP. ‘Show up, June 10th between 5 to 8 pm.’
Game 3 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to tip-off at Madison Square Garden around 8:30pm
Wembanyama hasn’t responded to Mamdani’s offer to attend a hearing on Monday in the city
Another suggested Mamdani ‘should push it to 9pm to make sure everyone gets their thoughts out,’ adding: ‘Wemby would appreciate this.’
Wembanyama has helped bring the once-feared Spurs franchise back from the NBA basement in just three short seasons. And against the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the WCF, the 22-year-old was absolutely dominant, averaging 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 1.4 steals a game while making 40 percent of his 3-point attempts and 89.5 percent of his free throws.
Of course, Wembanyama will be at Game 3, as will Mamdani and Trump for that matter.
New York is back in the finals for the first time in nearly three decades, with Mike Brown’s team facing the San Antonio Spurs as they chase a first championship since 1973. And, according to the New York Post, the President and long-time Knicks fan is expected to be at The Garden that night for the first NBA Finals game in New York in 27 years.
Trump has turned up to a number of major sporting events since returning to the Oval Office, including the Ryder Cup, the Super Bowl, US Open tennis and a New York Yankees game.
The Queens native recently said he was planning to attend one of the games after receiving an invite from Knicks owner James Dolan.
‘I think I’ll be going to one of the games,’ the president said. ‘I was invited by numerous people, and [Dolan], and I think I’ll be going.’
He added: ‘Boy, what a team! They win all their games… it’s great to see it. The Knicks have really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.’
