A historic moment in NBA history seems inches away. The huge market of New York has strived for a championship for eons. While the city has seen some relative success on the football field, it hasn’t tasted basketball success for over half a century.
As the New York Knicks stand two wins away from adding another Larry O’Brien to their trophy cabinet, the excitement is palpable, so much so that it is leading to another historic event: a sitting president attending a game in person.
President Donald Trump Makes Historic NBA Finals Appearance
The last time the New York Knicks won the NBA championship was in 1973. Now, over 50 years later, they are as close as they’ve ever been. Taking the first two games on the road, they’ve continued their stunning run through the postseason.
After falling down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the Knicks have rattled off 13 straight wins, only the second team in NBA history to achieve that feat in the playoffs. Moreover, they have done it at an unparalleled pace, registering the highest margin of victory ever.
That dominance has sparked attention from all corners of the country, as one of the biggest franchises in sports aims for its crowning achievement. It has also attracted the attention of President Trump, who is now attending the game in James Dolan’s suite.
In the rich history of basketball spanning nearly 80 years, this is the first time ever that a sitting President is attending a live NBA game. As a result, security has been ramped up to a maximum, with all watch parties around the prestigious Madison Square Garden already cancelled.
While other Presidents have attended the game, they did so after vacating the White House. Barack Obama has famously been a regular in the crowd at games, even sitting with Commissioner Adam Silver during one such occasion.
The situation with Trump, though, is a wholly unique instance. While he previously attended games, that was well before his administration came into power. This time around, his stature and protection are at another level altogether.
While the initial idea seemed like he would be sitting courtside, taking in the action, that has since been revised, with confirmation coming in that he will be with Dolan directly in his suite.
As for the game itself, the Knicks have taken an unprecedented 2-0 lead on the road. As the action shifts back to New York, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have a tall task ahead. Falling into an 0-3 hole would be nigh impossible to crawl out of, especially against a Knicks team riding the high of 13 straight wins in the playoffs.
