Adam Silver, Donald Trump
NBA commissioner Adam Silver; President Donald Trump.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's "thrilled" President Donald Trump is attending Game 3 of the Finals on June 8
Trump confirmed his plans to attend the game at Madison Square Garden after being invited by Knicks owner James Dolan
Silver noted Trump's history of supporting the Knicks and said he's "thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team"
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he's "thrilled" President Donald Trump is attending Game 3 of the Finals.
Trump, 79, told reporters on Thursday, June 4, that he's planning to be at Madison Square Garden on Monday, June 8, for the third game in the NBA Finals series between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
The president said he was invited by Knicks owner James Dolan. "The answer is yes, he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said, adding that he might also attend Game 4.
Silver, 64, reacted to the news on Thursday. "We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said, according to The Guardian.
“We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team,” Silver added.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media prior to Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City,
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media prior to Game One of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center on June 05, 2025 in Oklahoma City,
The commissioner noted that Trump "was a big Knicks fan" before he transitioned into politics: "I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden," Silver said.
“I think the fans are very understanding of that. I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event," the commissioner added, per the outlet.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also planning to attend Game 3 on Monday, but when asked about Trump's plans to attend, Mamdani said, “I will be in a very different section,” during a press conference, per The Guardian.
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Trump told reporters he watched the end of Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday.
“I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant,” Trump said, calling the Knicks' win "really amazing," according to the outlet.