{"id":725287,"date":"2026-06-09T14:11:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/725287\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:11:12","slug":"trump-booed-thunderously-at-nba-finals-what-we-know-basketball-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/725287\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump booed \u2018thunderously\u2019 at NBA Finals: What we know | Basketball News"},"content":{"rendered":"

United States President Donald Trump met with \u201cthunderous\u201d booing from fellow New York Knicks fans when he attended the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals in New York\u2019s Madison Square Garden on Monday, despite being the first sitting president ever to attend.<\/p>\n

Security was heightened for his visit, with authorities barring fans without tickets from coming within several blocks of the venue.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what happened.<\/p>\n

What happened?<\/p>\n

Fans jeered the president, who was watching the game against the San Antonio Spurs from an executive suite when he appeared onscreen inside the arena during the singing of the national anthem.<\/p>\n

Seen on the Jumbotron \u2013 a giant screen \u2013 saluting the US flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but played down the reception after the game \u2013 a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks\u2019 series lead to 2-1.<\/p>\n

The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the rivals, the Spurs.<\/p>\n

White House pool reporters said the president had been booed \u201cthunderously\u201d.<\/p>\n

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was very welcome to attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the president is a \u201cgenuine Knicks fan\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes sports so special, especially when there\u2019s so much that divides people, is that it\u2019s something we have in common,\u201d Silver told ESPN\u2019s Inside the NBA before Game 3. \u201cWe should look for those things we have in common and build off that.\u201d<\/p>\n

ESPN reported, however, that fans made rude gestures towards Trump as his motorcade arrived at the venue, while others held up signs reading \u201cTrump must go\u201d.<\/p>\n

Trump, a longtime Knicks fan, last visited Madison Square Garden in November 2024 to watch an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bout following his election victory. He earlier held a campaign rally at the venue.<\/p>\n

\"NBA\"Fans block Eighth Avenue near Madison Square Garden after Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in New York, US, June 8, 2026 [Eduardo Munoz\/Reuters]What security measures were taken before the game?<\/p>\n

Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena.<\/p>\n

Officials urged ticket holders to arrive at least two hours before the 8:30pm (00:30 GMT, Tuesday) tip-off to clear airport-style security screening. Bags were not permitted inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there\u2019s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it\u2019s packed,\u201d Silver said at the game. \u201cPeople listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Secret Service deployed counter-drone technology as part of its operation to protect the US leader, who has faced three alleged assassination attempts in less than two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Secret Service\u2019s focus is straightforward: to ensure everyone attending the game can enjoy the game and have a safe experience, while we carry out our responsibility to protect the President of the United States,\u201d Special Agent Matt McCool told reporters.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, police played down broader security concerns following a stabbing late on Sunday, which wounded six people at Penn Station, which sits beneath the venue. US media described the male suspect as emotionally disturbed with no terror links.<\/p>\n

Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a specially constructed box with bulletproof glass. The box was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance.<\/p>\n

\"TrumpPresident Donald Trump attends the NBA Finals, June 8, 2026 [Mark Schiefelbein\/AP]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe message is simple: celebrate the Knicks, but avoid the MSG area tonight if you do not have tickets for the game,\u201d NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told a news conference, referring to Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

Before the game, AFP journalists reported seeing a 10-foot (3-metre) fence around parts of Madison Square Garden and a large presence of Secret Service personnel charged with protecting the US president.<\/p>\n

The agents, some heavily armed, were accompanied by hundreds of police officers as crowds gathered on streets near the venue and at public viewing areas elsewhere in the city.<\/p>\n

Besides heightened security measures, watch parties outside the Manhattan venue were banned \u2013 a break from the first two playoff games between the Knicks and the Spurs, which drew jubilant crowds.<\/p>\n

Both teams\u2019 coaches played down any suggestion that Trump\u2019s presence was a distraction to the teams before Game 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy focus is just what\u2019s next and what\u2019s in front of me, and Game 3 is [in] front of us right now,\u201d Knicks coach Mike Brown said. \u201cI feel our group is that way, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TrumpPeople watch as Trump\u2019s motorcade passes in New York, June 8, 2026 [Mark Schiefelbein\/AP Photo]Why was Trump booed?<\/p>\n

Some New Yorkers and Democratic lawmakers criticised Trump for the inconvenience to fans attending the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring one of the best moments NYC has enjoyed in decades, [Trump] makes it all about himself. Trump should LEAVE US ALONE! He\u2019s not wanted here,\u201d Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X.<\/p>\n

As Trump\u2019s convoy travelled through the city to Madison Square Garden, some protesters on the streets held signs saying \u201cTrump must go\u201d. At least two people raised their middle fingers towards the vehicles.<\/p>\n

Knicks fan Anthony Pulley, 43, told the AFP news agency he appreciated Trump coming to the game even if he found the disruption annoying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it sucks. I think it really put a damper on all the watch parties. But it\u2019s pretty cool he wants to show up and be a part of it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Were ticket prices increased?<\/p>\n

Ticket prices for Monday\u2019s game were out of reach for most New Yorkers, but the self-proclaimed \u201cWorld\u2019s Most Famous Arena\u201d was still packed to the rafters, with celebrity fans courtside.<\/p>\n

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he bought his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"United States President Donald Trump met with \u201cthunderous\u201d booing from fellow New York Knicks fans when he attended…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":725096,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[461,49,48,1376,3411,459,44,6975,714,457,82,772,1690],"class_list":["post-725287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-basketball","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-donald-trump","tag-elections","tag-nba","tag-news","tag-police","tag-politics","tag-sport","tag-sports","tag-united-states","tag-us-canada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=725287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/725287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/725096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=725287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=725287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=725287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}