President Donald Trump said he expects to attend a New York Knicks NBA Finals game after the franchise secured its first trip to the championship round in years.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump confirmed he had been invited to attend and said he plans to go after New York completed a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
“I was invited to go on Wednesday, but they closed it out very quickly,” Trump said. “Jim Dolan is a great guy. As you know, he owns and is in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year. Boy, what a team. They win all their games. They have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games. I was invited by numerous people and Jim, and I think I’ll be going.”
Trump also referenced the Knicks’ long postseason struggles and recent turnaround, adding: “It’s great to see it. The Knicks have really suffered for years.”
The comments came after reporting from The New York Times on Wednesday stated Trump was considering attending a Finals game at Madison Square Garden if New York hosted one. The report, citing three people familiar with the planning, said a visit had become more likely after the Knicks swept Cleveland 4-0 and eliminated the need for a Game 5 in the Eastern Conference finals.
According to the newspaper, Trump had initially planned a surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday if the Knicks had failed to close out the Cavaliers in Game 4. Instead, New York’s quick finish shifted attention toward the NBA Finals, which begin June 3.
The Knicks now await their Finals opponent. The Oklahoma City Thunder moved within one victory of advancing after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Tuesday to take a 3-2 series lead. If San Antonio forces another game, the series would return to Oklahoma City for Game 7 on Saturday.
New York will host Games 3 and 4 of the Finals regardless of whether the Thunder or Spurs emerge from the Western Conference. That scheduling creates multiple opportunities for a high-profile appearance at Madison Square Garden if Trump follows through on his stated plan.
A sitting or former U.S. president attending an NBA Finals game remains uncommon, making the possibility notable beyond basketball circles. Trump has attended several major sporting events over the last year, including the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500, the U.S. Open men’s final and a New York Yankees game.
