Trump Becomes First Sitting President to Attend NBA Finals Game

President Donald Trump attended Game Three of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, the first sitting president to attend an NBA championship game.

The Knicks entered the game against the Spurs on a 13-game winning streak but saw it snapped in a 115-111 defeat.

In advance, the U.S. Secret Service announced that roads surrounding Madison Square Garden in New York City will face closures.

“A strict no-bag policy will be enforced, and we want to communicate that early and broadly so fans can plan accordingly,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Reuters via email.

“Attendees should also expect Secret Service-level security ​screening, similar to airport screening procedures.”

Despite the increased security presence, train service through Penn Station, including the subway and Long Island Rail Road, was expected to operate normally.

The Knicks also advised fans to bring only essential items to help speed up the entry process.

“Fans should make every effort to limit personal items to an absolute minimum,” the team said in a statement.

New York entered Game 3 with a 2–0 series lead after winning both opening games in San Antonio. The team’s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 generated widespread excitement across the city as the Knicks seek their first championship since 1973.

That enthusiasm was evident on Friday night when approximately 6,500 fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden for a Game Two watch party. The crowd celebrated a dramatic 105–104 Knicks victory.

The event also led to 17 arrests, according to New York City police. Authorities said one individual was taken into custody for allegedly striking a police officer.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on fans to celebrate responsibly. While acknowledging the city’s excitement over the Knicks’ historic playoff run, he emphasized that violence and attacks on law enforcement would not be tolerated.

“New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate ⁠this moment ​together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police ​officers,” Mamdani said in a statement on Saturday.

A lifelong Knicks supporter, Mamdani has frequently attended local sporting events since taking office and was seen on social media posts at Monday’s game.

When asked on Air Force One who his favorite Knicks player is, Trump did not give a direct answer but said that star guard Jalen Brunson and star center Karl-Anthony Towns are “fantastic” and that the Knicks are “a great team.”

As president, Trump has attended the U.S. Open, Super Bowl LIX, the Daytona 500, the Army–Navy game, and the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. On June 14, the White House will host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. That day is also Trump’s birthday.

NYPD was in full force Monday night, securing a wide security perimeter around Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan before the president arrived. Ticketholders heading to the stadium had to enter security at designated points. Police allowed attendees to enter at Sixth Avenue and 32nd St. As they got ready to enter, fans and ticketholders spoke with The Epoch Times.

“It’s wonderful that President Trump is coming to the game tonight,” said David Bownick, a retired attorney, “and I also think it’s nice that Mayor Mamdami is coming. It’s an apolitical event.”  

Bownick said they had to come an extra hour and a half early for this game, but he’s “glad that everybody can come together and enjoy the excitement of New York.”

Jeremy Levine, who works in advertising, said, “It’s not ideal, but as long as you get in there before the game starts, it’s okay.” 

Levine said he’s a lifelong fan and a Knicks game is the only thing in the world he’d wait two-and-a-half hours for.

“It would be better if maybe he didn’t say he was coming, so that we wouldn’t have to wait on these lines,” said Levine. 

Some fans said the president’s attendance disrupted their evening. 

“I’m very upset. I’m a season ticket holder, so very used to coming to MSG all season,” said Sam Seath, who works in sales. 

“Just thinking about all the businesses that I go to before every single game. They’re not going to have any patrons tonight because of him,” Seath said, adding she attends every single game with her father. 

“I’m sure it’s gonna be a nightmare to get out,” said Seath. Even so, she was thrilled that the Knicks are in the finals. 

“It’s really brought the city together.”

Brian Yan, an engineer, agreed. 

“Oh, you can definitely just sense the energy. … Just the excitement around the city is like—it’s electrifying.”

As for Trump attending, “I mean, it’s definitely caused a lot of chaos, to say the least. There’s also a lot going on in the world, Iran, right now, so I’m not sure if this is the best use of his time,” said Yan.

December Bails, a sales engineer, said the security protocols for the president to attend were a downer. Fans have waited a long time to see the Knicks in the finals again. 

“This is what makes this so special, and that’s kind of putting a rain cloud on it,” said Bails.

“The city’s been starving for this opportunity, and you know now we have to go through all this just to enjoy it. So it’s a little sour grapes—but the ultimate goal, obviously, we know we want to win a championship, and that’s why we’re all here.” 

Tony Manfred, who works as a journalist, said it didn’t matter much to him. 

“[Trump] can do whatever he wants. If he got invited to the game, he can come to the game. I don’t know enough about the ins and outs of how to protect a president to know if this is overkill or not,” said Manfred.  

Manfred said in New York, the Knicks feel “like a civic institution in a way that other professional sports teams don’t. … When the Knicks are good, you can feel it in the air.”

Seyit Kette, Syomen Desel, and Maximilian Gee are here on vacation from Germany and just happened to be in New York for Game 3, but they were thrilled to be there.

“It’s actually really great because we don’t have something like that in Germany. A whole lot of people, a whole lot of big buildings. It’s really impressive,” said Kette. 

They planned to attend a Game 3 watch party in Bryant Park. He and his friends came to the United States for travel and will catch a World Cup match in Houston when Germany goes up against Curaçao.

“And also that the game is happening and all the people are around here, everybody’s in a good mood, so it’s pretty cool,” said Kette.