The first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, Donald Trump arrived at Madison Square Garden on Monday night as part of history, watching the New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3.
But rather than receiving a hero’s welcome in his hometown, the 79-year-old was met with loud boos when he appeared on the arena’s Jumbotron during the national anthem.
Afterward, Trump shared his thoughts on the game and the reception he got from the crowd.
What Did Donald Trump Say After Attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals
Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at MSG as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan and watched from the owner’s suite alongside several members of his entourage, including granddaughter Kai Trump, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The boos came after Trump was shown saluting on the big screen during the national anthem before tipoff. He remained on screen for several seconds, appearing to smirk, as the reaction from sections of the crowd grew louder.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One after the game, Trump acknowledged that the league may not always align with him politically.
“It’s a little bit left wing, but it’s great entertainment,” Trump told reporters.
Trump also dismissed suggestions that the crowd had turned on him, saying the response was largely positive.
“I thought it was very good. It was certainly amazing. I think mostly cheers. It was loud. And it was very enthusiastic.”
Trump on the NBA: It’s a little left wing but it’s great entertainment. pic.twitter.com/HSNy1WsMWj
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 9, 2026
Off the court, the talk was all about Trump.
On it, however, it was all the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama.
San Antonio defeated New York 115-111 to cut the Knicks’ lead in the NBA Finals to 2-1, ending the franchise’s remarkable 13-game playoff winning streak in the process. It was also New York’s first postseason defeat since April 23.
Wembanyama delivered his best performance of the series, finishing with 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting while adding 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks as the Spurs erased a 7-point deficit at halftime and breathed new life into the Finals.
Despite the setback, the Knicks, who haven’t won a championship since 1973, still hold a 2-1 series lead heading into Wednesday.
After finally cracking New York’s seemingly unstoppable run, the Spurs will head into the next game believing the series is far from over.
However, history is still against San Antonio. Only five teams in NBA Finals history have rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win the championship, with the most recent example coming when the Milwaukee Bucks overturned a 2-0 hole against the Phoenix Suns in 2021.
And judging by the reaction on social media after the Knicks’ first loss in 46 days, some Spurs fans might not mind seeing Trump back at MSG for Game 4.
