Avery Wilson became one of the most talked-about figures ahead of Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals after delivering a powerful rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Madison Square Garden, where President Donald Trump was seen saluting during the performance.
The Grammy-nominated singer and Broadway actor performed the national anthem before tipoff as the New York Knicks hosted the San Antonio Spurs in a highly anticipated Finals matchup.
Throughout the performance, Wilson received loud cheers from fans inside Madison Square Garden, further cementing his growing connection with Knicks supporters.
Wilson's appearance came as national attention was already focused on Game 3 due to Trump's attendance. The president, who became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, stood in a private suite and saluted during the anthem.
As cameras showed Trump during the performance, reactions inside the arena quickly became a major talking point. However, much of the attention online shifted to Wilson's vocals, with many viewers praising his performance.
Avery Wilson sings the national anthem in MSG before Game 3 and receives loud cheers from time to time.
President Donald Trump salutes. pic.twitter.com/VS126jAl9w
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 9, 2026
Before the game, singer and political performer Mary Millben publicly backed Wilson on social media.
Wilson has become a familiar face at Madison Square Garden throughout the Knicks' playoff run.
The singer has performed the national anthem multiple times during New York's postseason home games, leading many fans to view him as a lucky presence for the team. His return for Game 3 added another layer of excitement as the Knicks attempted to move closer to their first NBA championship since 1973.
Fans watching Game 3 quickly flooded social media with positive reactions.
"Well done, AVERY. The media focus should be on your talent!" one commenter wrote.
Praise continued to pour in after the performance, with one viewer stating, "One of the best singers of our generation a 100%."
A separate reaction read, "He sounded INCREDIBLE."
Another supporter described the anthem as "A historic performance from a fantastic Broadway actor."
Following the game, Wilson addressed the public response and thanked supporters for their encouragement.
"Thank you so much for all the love that you are showing me through texts and posts. I really really appreciate it," Wilson said in a video shared on Instagram.
Reflecting on the experience, he added: "Me singing the National Anthem at the finals tonight - the Knicks vs the Spurs - was truly an unforgettable moment, even though I wanted us to win New York City so we could turn up. The game is not over. I know who was in the audience so I didn't think that people were booing me at all. I was also prompted to know that they probably would do so."
Despite the attention surrounding Trump's attendance and the heightened security around Madison Square Garden, Wilson's national anthem performance emerged as one of the night's biggest entertainment moments.
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