It’s a rare occurrence for anyone not directly involved with the competing teams to steal the spotlight during the NBA Finals. However, President Donald Trump managed to do exactly that.
As he became the first seated US President to attend an NBA Finals game, speculation immediately erupted about the crowd’s reaction when he appeared on the Jumbotron.
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While Trump insisted he mostly heard cheers, former New York Knicks guard Raymond Felton, who was in attendance for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, revealed a different version of events—one that Trump’s supporters may not be thrilled to hear.
“Energy was crazy. The moment when they put him up there? It was so bad. When they put him on the Jumbotron? Oh, My God!” Felton said. “It got to a point where it was so bad, whoever the video guy was — is the champ — ’cause he went from ‘him’ to all the Knicks players. That was perfect how he did that.”
Trump won’t turn up for Game 4
Many Knicks fans were already frustrated before the tip-off, as Trump’s visit led to heightened security measures that shut down a 10-block section around MSG. Moreover, the outdoor watch party was canceled, multiple checkpoints were established, and fans were required to undergo extensive security screenings before entering the arena.
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As if that wasn’t enough, Trump was even labeled the Knicks’ bad-luck charm, getting their 13-game winning streak (the second-biggest in NBA playoff history) to come to an end, while others mocked him for his viral picture of him dozing off during the game. Because of all that attention and controversy, many speculated whether Donald would dare to attend the next game.
According to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, outdoor watch parties for Game 4 are not canceled, which only indicates that the President would not be returning to MSG. That belief was later reinforced by ESPN insider Shams Charania, who reported that the 79-year-old President will not attend the next NBA Finals contest due to scheduling conflicts and other obligations.
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The Knicks need no distractions
Regardless of whether President Trump’s presence affected the atmosphere, it certainly felt as though there were too many distractions around the mighty Knicks as they attempted to protect their 2-0 lead over the San Antonio Spurs.
The chaos around the city only helped Mitch Johnson’s team register their first win of this series, winning the game 115-111 as the home team was held to just 20 points — their second-lowest scoring quarter of the series — in the fourth quarter.
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That pressure has only intensified, as it’s safe to say the young Spurs are growing in confidence. For the Knicks, at this point, discussions surrounding officiating, Trump’s attendance, altercations involving fans after Game 3, and other off-court controversies have created an atmosphere of uncertainty.
And the only way to silence that noise is by winning. It remains to be seen if Jalen Brunson & Co. will do that?
Related: “It’s a little left-wing” – Donald Trump weighs in on the NBA’s political reputation
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.