President Donald Trump's attendance for Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden has only amplified the event becoming historically anticipated.
Between the Knicks seeking to go up 3-0 vs. the Spurs in the series as they pursue their first title in decades, and the collection of superstars who often sit courtside at New York's home games, Trump's presence added yet another high-profile storyline.
The president's decision to attend wasn't all on his own, however. He was invited by Knicks owner James Dolan, as the two have a known friendship that has lasted over the years.
Here's what to know about the relationship between Trump and Dolan as they take in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals together.
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Donald Trump-James Dolan friendship
Trump's Knicks fandom extends beyond his relationship with Dolan, as he appeared courtside at Madison Square Garden and shown an affinity for the team long before he became president. However, Trump and Dolan have also been considered close friends for years.
From Dolan holding his wedding at Mar-A-Lago in 2002, to his financial support of Trump's political campaigns, there have been a few signs of their friendship.
The Trump-Dolan relationship has also extended a bit into business as well. The New York Post reported that the two had a meeting in April 2026 to discuss plans to renovate Penn Station and move Madison Square Garden from its current spot on top of the midtown Manhattan train station, and the idea of renaming Penn Station after Trump.
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What has James Dolan said about Donald Trump?
In 2018, Dolan also opened up about his ties to Trump's Mar-A-Lago club. He said he's a member at the club, and Dolan even had his wedding there in 2002, as did his son, Charles, in 2017.
"I've known him for a long time. I got married at Mar-a-Lago. I'm a member of Mar-a-Lago, and I support him as a friend," Dolan told ESPN in 2018. "And you don't have to agree with everything that he's doing in order to support him. And he's, by the way, our president, and I don't understand people who wish our president to do badly. Why would you wish your president to do badly? It's like wishing that your milkman will bring you sour milk."
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What has Donald Trump said about James Dolan?
More recently, Trump shared that his presence at Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals was by invitation, as Dolan extended one for the huge game.
"Well, I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time, and I’m also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump told reporters. "He’s a nice guy, OK? He spent a long time wanting to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing."
"They're really great, a great team. I'm happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team."
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How much money has James Dolan donated to Donald Trump's campaigns?
Dolan has also financially backed Trump's presidential campaigns. In 2017, Dolan gave $125,000 to Trump's re-election campaign, per NJ.com. FEC filings also showed that Dolan donated $300,000 in 2016 to the joint fundraising committee set up by Trump and the Republican National Committee, for a known total of $425,000.
"Mr. Dolan is a long-time friend and supporter of President Trump," a Knicks spokesperson said at the time, per NJ.com. "His contribution is a matter of public record, and was made by Mr. Dolan as a private citizen."
On top of Dolan's donations to Trump's campaigns, Trump has held rallies at Madison Sqaure Garden.
How did James Dolan make his money?
Dolan made his money after becoming the Cablevision CEO in 1995, per the MSG leadership page. He originally started his career in the music industry; according to ClutchPoints, his father, Charles, gave him a job at Cablevision. By 1995, James Dolan was elected as the company's CEO, largely because "no one else wanted it," according to New York Magazine.
Cablevision later bought out another company which owned a share of Madison Square Garden, meaning he earned the rights to the Knicks and Rangers. By that point, Dolan had become MSG chairman and the day-to-day head of the sports teams and regional sports networks' operations.
The Dolan family's company, Cablevision, bought the company that previously owned Madison Square Garden and its holdings for $600 million in 1997, per to ClutchPoints.
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