President Donald Trump is planning an up-close look at the hottest team in professional basketball. On Wednesday, Trump told reporters during a break from a White House Cabinet meeting that New York Knicks owner James Dolan has invited him to the upcoming NBA Finals. The historic championship series will see the Eastern Conference champion Knicks host either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs next month at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks are currently riding a spectacular 11-game postseason winning streak. They locked up their spot in the championship round by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Because of the quick four-game sweep, Trump noted that his initial plans to attend Game 5 in New York were dashed when the team closed out the series early. As the schedule stands, New York is set to host Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10 in the best-of-seven series.
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Trump, a native New Yorker, praised Dolan during his remarks, calling him a great guy and marveling at the team’s dominant postseason performance. The US President expressed excitement over the club’s return to the finals for the first time since 1999, joking that the franchise and its fans have truly suffered for years but are finally doing well. If he attends, it will mark a historic moment, as a sitting president has never attended an NBA Finals game in person.
The scheduled appearance aligns with Trump’s frequent attendance at major sporting events throughout his political career. Over his two presidential terms, he has been a regular fixture at prominent matchups, including the Super Bowl, the College Football Playoff national championship, the Daytona 500, and a prime-time NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets.
Madison Square Garden officials have noted that the President of the United States is always welcome at their venues, though the visit is expected to bring immense security coordination to the heart of Manhattan.
