President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on Monday, he confirmed.
Team owner James Dolan had previously extended an invitation to the president.
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“The answer is yes,” Trump said on Thursday. “[Dolan] has invited me, and I’m going. I’ll be there. It could be Monday. Maybe I’ll do both [Game 3 and Game 4].”
The Knicks currently have a 1-0 Finals lead after pulling off a fiery 14-point comeback against the Spurs in Game 1 on Wednesday.
When asked about the possibility of Trump attending a Finals game, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was on board with the idea.
“President Trump is very much a New Yorker,” Silver said. “I’m thrilled another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team.”
If he does end up attending, Trump will become the first sitting president in history to attend an NBA Finals game. Silver said the league is aware of the heightened security that would be necessary at such a game.
“There should be extra security for the president of the United States to be at a game, but I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
