Is Donald Trump at the NBA Finals? Live updates on president's Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 appearance
Is Donald Trump at the NBA Finals? Live updates on president’s Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 appearance originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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After the Knicks won the first two games of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, all eyes are on Madison Square Garden for Game 3.
The real action will be on the court, where the Knicks are hoping to build a series lead that has never been overcome in NBA history, but the scene will be ideal for celebrity watching. The stars will be out, and it doesn’t just stop at celebrity row.
U.S. president Donald Trump said he plans to attend Game 3, in what would be his first NBA game since he entered politics in 2015. A fairly common sight at Knicks games from the 1990s into the early 2010s, Trump would bring plenty of attention — and extra security measures — with him at MSG this time around.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates on Trump’s whereabouts for Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. See the latest below.
MORE:Is Donald Trump really a Knicks fan?
Is Donald Trump at the NBA Finals?
Check back for live updates leading up to Game 3.
Trump said he will attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night. The president spent the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey and is already in the area; his official schedule says he will head back to Washington D.C. after the game.
When asked whether he would be at the game, Trump told reporters he accepted an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan. “The answer is yes. He’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said.
The Knicks are preparing accordingly, as they released instructions to fans who will be dealing with enhanced security on Monday.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 6, 2026
NBA commissioner Adam Silver told reporters he was “thrilled” Trump planned to attend his first Knicks game since 2014.
“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said, noting that he saw Trump at games and even the NBA Draft before entering politics.
“We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in New York and 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 the joy around this Knick team.”
Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s Knicks fandom.
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Why is Donald Trump at the NBA Finals?
Trump has been a frequent attendee of major sporting events during his second term, from Super Bowl 59 to the College Football Playoff championship game this past January, but he actually is a Knicks fan.
A native New Yorker, Trump was pictured attending at least 14 Knicks games from 1991-2014 and also attended other NBA events, including the 2003 NBA Draft and the clinching game of the 2002 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Nets.
These days, Trump seems to be a bit busier but still said he found time to watch most of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he thinks Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are “fantastic” and said the Knicks “have a great team.”
President Trump was asked who his favorite Knicks player is while aboard Air Force One on Friday. Trump mentioned Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns, before praising the entire team. Trump also addressed the high prices for tickets to game three of the NBA Finals, saying,… pic.twitter.com/3RXzxc0OGd
— LiveNOW from FOX (@livenowfox) June 6, 2026
It might not be like the old days, when Trump was able to sit on celebrity row, but this won’t be his first time experiencing the playoffs at Madison Square Garden.
MORE:Donald Trump addresses sky-high NBA Finals ticket prices
Who is watching with Donald Trump?
This section will be updated.
Trump’s guests for Game 3 of the NBA Finals aren’t clear, but he was invited by Knicks owner James Dolan and could be sitting with the fellow billionaire.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani also confirmed he will be at Game 3, but Mamdani said last Thursday that he will be “in a very different section.”
Has a sitting president ever attended the NBA Finals?
Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game. While the presidency has a long history with sporting events dating back to Ronald Reagan — throwing out first pitches, attending the Olympics and even the Super Bowl — but the NBA Finals has remained elusive.
