Trump says he'll be at MSG to back Knicks in NBA Finals

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals as Knicks fever sweeps his hometown.

Trump, taking questions from reporters at the Oval Office on Thursday, said he "could be" attending Monday's game at Madison Square Garden between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, and possibly a second game.

"It could be Monday ... maybe I’ll do both," Trump said when asked which game he planned to attend. The Athletic reported Wednesday evening that Trump planned to be at Game 3.

Trump, whose plans to attend a playoff game against the Cleveland Cavaliers were derailed when the Knicks swept the Eastern Conference Finals in four games, said he was invited by team owner James Dolan, whom Trump said he is a "fan" of.

"They’re a great team, and I’m happy for Jim, because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team," Trump said of Dolan.

The president last month told reporters he hoped to attend the Finals, praising the team for their winning streak.

"Boy, what a team," Trump said during a May 27 Oval Office appearance. "They have some great players. ... Great to see it. The Knicks have really suffered for years. They’re doing great now."

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters at a Thursday news conference he also planned on attending Game 3, but had no plans to meet with or sit with the president.

"I can tell you that I'm planning to go to a Knicks game," Mamdani said when asked if he would meet with Trump while he’s in town. "I will be at Game 3. I will be in a very different section of the stadium, and we look forward to welcoming any New Yorker who is excited for the Knicks to win that championship."

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.