President Trump plans to hit Garden for NBA Finals as guest of Knicks owner

President Donald Trump is planning to attend the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan.

Trump said he had been invited to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, but New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games on Monday before he could accept the invitation. The game had been scheduled for Wednesday.

"Boy, what a team," Trump said at the White House during a break from a Cabinet meeting. "I think I'll be going to one of the games. Yeah, I was invited by numerous people."

The Knicks, making their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, are now awaiting the winner of the Western Conference finals. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 3-2 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in their best-of-seven series, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday night.

The Western Conference champion will host the Knicks on June 3 and June 5, while New York will host Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10.

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

A longtime New York resident, Trump maintains close ties to the city and the Knicks franchise, as well as to Dolan, who oversees operations of both Madison Square Garden and the NHL’s New York Rangers.

—Field Level Media/Reuters