Trump may attend NBA Finals to see hometown team Knicks vie for championship
“I get along with Jim Dolan, and I think he’s a really nice guy, and he’s entitled to a good team because he’s suffered a little bit.
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“I get along with Jim Dolan, and I think he’s a really nice guy, and he’s entitled to a good team because he’s suffered a little bit.
President Donald Trump is considering going to an NBA Finals game as the New York Knicks head to the championship round for the first time in over two decades, reports the New York Times. The appearance would take place at Madison Square Garden in New York if the Knicks advance to the NBA Finals. No official announcement has been made by the White House or the NBA.
Sources told the New York Times that contingency planning has already been discussed depending on the outcome of the Knicks’ playoff run. The team has not reached the NBA Finals since 1999. The Knicks advanced in the Eastern Conference finals after a 130-90 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, which eliminated the need for a previously considered presidential appearance at Game 5, according to the same reporting.
Trump has attended multiple major sporting events since returning to office, including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, US Open men’s final, FIFA Club World Cup Final, Ryder Cup, and several UFC events.
Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he has been following the Knicks’ performance. “Well, I am,” Trump told TalkRadio 77 when asked if he remained a Knicks fan. He also commented on James Dolan, executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports, the company that owns the Knicks.
“I get along with Jim Dolan, and I think he’s a really nice guy, and he’s entitled to a good team because he’s suffered a little bit,” Trump said on TalkRadio 77.
“I’m really happy for [Dolan] and for the team, I think it’s great,” he added.
Trump has attended NBA games in the past, including before entering politics, but is more frequently seen at golf tournaments and UFC events in recent years. An upcoming UFC fight will be staged on the ground of the White House.
If he attends the NBA Finals, it would be the first time a sitting US president has appeared at the championship series. Former President Barack Obama attended an NBA Finals game in 2019 after leaving office, while former President George W. Bush attended a Finals game in 1999 while serving as governor of Texas.
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