Anticipation is sky-high as the NBA Finals tip off Wednesday night, with the San Antonio Spurs hosting the New York Knicks.
The Knicks are on an all-time great playoff run. They are 12-2 in the postseason. Since falling behind the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 in the first round, they have won 11 straight games. The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, just knocked off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Knicks are in the Finals for the first time since 1999, when they lost to the Spurs in five games. New York is expected to be a zoo when the series shifts to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 on Monday night.
Adding to the excitement, President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
The NBA World Reacts to Donald Trump Attending NBA Finals
The New York Times broke the story that Trump would be attending Game 3.
Whatever you think about Donald Trump, he is a major story. He is probably more notable than any other political figure in recent American history. His attendance at this game will only add fuel to an already exciting series. The Spurs are maybe the best franchise of the last 25-30 years. The Knicks have perhaps the most passionate and tortured fanbase in the NBA.
The NBA world had plenty to say about Trump’s attendance. This may now be a bigger event than anyone could have imagined.
This Knicks blogger described Trump’s attendance as a “major event in American history.”
“Game 3 of the NBA Finals just became a major event in American history,” they wrote on X. “This is what we mean when we say nobody moves the culture like the Knicks.”
Game 3 of the NBA Finals just became a major event in American history. This is what we mean when we say nobody moves the culture like the Knicks https://t.co/SKXl8rB0tf
— another knicks blogger (@morelikemensa) June 3, 2026
It is being referred to by some as “Knicks Mania.” Tori Jacobs is not a fan of Trump attending the game.
“He literally ruins EVERYTHING,” Jacobs said.
He literally ruins EVERYTHING https://t.co/9367kVmWkr
— Tori J. (@torijacobs) June 3, 2026
Claire De Lune of The Guardian is happy they won’t be in town to see it. “Very grateful i’m not coming to town until game 4,” she said.
very grateful i’m not coming to town until game 4 https://t.co/m5gXgs8swP
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) June 3, 2026
The office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted a video from the new movie Obsession to share her thoughts on it with the movie’s female lead saying “No” repeatedly.
https://t.co/reFh4D7ZFt pic.twitter.com/PeVDWiRyPX
— Governor Hochul Press Office (@NYGovPress) June 3, 2026
Doc Coyle thinks between Trump and Stephen A. Smith’s picking the Knicks, the team has been further cursed.
“First Stephen A predicted a NY win, now this,” Coyle wrote. “The Knicks are cursed.”
First Stephen A predicted a NY win, now this. The Knicks are cursed. https://t.co/bhCfi20AIq
— Doc Coyle (@DocCoyle) June 3, 2026
The New York Post’s Kirsten Fleming is upset about all of the extra time it’s going to take to get into the building.
“I went to an Army Navy he attended during his first term,” Fleming explained. “I drank a lot of beer at the tailgate and as we neared the gates, it was shut down for security. We had to wait maybe 20, 30 mins. I nearly peed my pants and missed the flyover. Bottom line, plan wisely.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also attending the game, and, with him on a very different aisle than the president, Let’s Talk Knicks turned to Zoolander to share a potential meeting between the two.
Trump and Mamdani crossing paths at MSG pic.twitter.com/DbV379HsqA https://t.co/MDCbJMLaj0
— Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) June 3, 2026
Melanie D’Arrigo of the Campaign for New York Health believes the boos will not only be through the roof, but you will hear them below as well.
“The boos will be so loud that it will derail the trains below in Penn Station,” D’Arrigo wrote.
The boos will be so loud that it will derail the trains below in Penn Station. https://t.co/4BjNudQTVH
— Melanie D’Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) June 3, 2026
The reactions are clearly very mixed – much like the American population right now. One thing that is clear is that this is becoming one of the biggest sporting events in years, and you won’t want to miss what could be a very memorable series between the Spurs and Knicks.
You can check out the complete Finals schedule here.
