SAN ANTONIO — President Donald Trump confirmed that he plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York after he was invited by Knicks owner and governor James Dolan.
Trump on going to the NBA Finals: Wemby's a great player. He's going to be a great player and he is already a great player. I’m going. Could be Monday. Maybe I’ll do both. pic.twitter.com/SBeDujD3vt
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that Trump was "welcome" to attend, and this may be the first time a sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game.
"I'd say the President, of course, is welcome to attend Game 3," Silver said at an NBA Cares event. "And this President, Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan."
Silver has previously talked about the soft power of sports to bring people together and sees this as another such opportunity.
"I think sports, in particular, is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart, that it creates a sense of belonging," Silver said. "We're seeing that in New York, and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I'm thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team."
The NBA Finals are not the first major sporting event Trump has attended. He was at the 2025 Super Bowl, the 2025 U.S. Open tennis tournament, and last January the College Football Playoff championship game.
SAN ANTONIO — That wasn't the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1. At least the Spurs as they see themselves.
After a night to reflect and break down the film, the Spurs' reaction to blowing a 14-point second-half lead and losing Game 1 at home to the Knicks was that they strayed from doing the things that got them to this point. Too much isolation (particularly with Victor Wembanyama). Too much hero ball (particularly with Wembanyama). Not enough ball movement. Too much trying to force the ball into the heart of the Knicks defense. Not enough help on the defensive glass.
"It didn't take too much film or too deep to dig to find the second-chance points (surrendered)..." Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "Sixteen assists is not a reflection of this program ever since I've been here, and decades before I was. We can be much sharper on just a lot of game plan execution stuff.
"Then I think you add that I think Victor will play better? Sure. I think a couple guys will make more shots than they did. Agree."
"Really, I think the reason we lost that game isn't even technical. It's not even technical, tactical," Wembanyama said. "We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal. We don't need to do anything incredible."
Bottom line, the Spurs believe they just need to make the "play better" adjustment. Here are three things to look for to see if they made that adjustment in Game 2.
Knicks second-chance points
For the first three rounds of the playoffs, when a perimeter shooter saw Wemby rotate out to them, that player just moved the ball and bailed on the shot. Not the Knicks, they tried to create space and get the jumper up over those long arms, if possible. That led to some spectacular makes, like OG Anunoby's.
What a cold-blooded shot by OG Anunoby. Fourth quarter of Game 1, on the road, one-possession game, the most menacing defensive player on the planet in his face ... and he just jabs, rocks and dots Wemby's eye. pic.twitter.com/qQ3GKvgPGP
More importantly, it means that Wembanyama isn't in the paint to get the rebound, and that's when Karl-Anthony Towns used his size and Josh Hart used his hustle to get an offensive board and another chance. It was one of the key factors in the Knicks' win, and with that, it becomes something to watch in Game 2 — if the Knicks keep dominating the second-chance opportunities, they will dominate the game.
Spurs assists
Mitch Johnson could not have been more clear in the quote above: "Sixteen assists is not a reflection of this program ever since I've been here."
Part of that was the Spurs leaning too heavily on isolation, with players trying to do too much on their own (again, starting with Wembanyama). But there are two parts to an assist: the pass and then making the shot. Part of the Spurs' low assist number was that they just missed shots. San Antonio missed from everywhere, shooting just 50% in the paint and 25.6% from 3-point range. The Knicks did a better job running the Spurs off the line in the second half, but the Spurs just missed the good looks they did get.
It's still a make-or-miss league, and the Spurs need some makes.
Get Wembanyama better looks
It feels like it's the hot take after every Spurs loss, but it's not wrong: The Spurs need to get Victor Wembanyama better touches closer to the rim. Wembanyama shot just 3-of-5 in the restricted area and 4-of-9 in the paint overall in Game 1 — that is not enough shots and touches.
Give the Knicks defense credit here: They did a good job taking those away in Game 1. Wembanyama would set a screen for Stephon Castle or De'Aaron Fox, and he rolled hard to the rim, but the Spurs did a good job of bumping him, being physical, and never letting him get comfortable and to a place where he could easily collect a pass. It was as good a job on him as any team has done.
However, there are counters, including using Wemby more like the Knicks use Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub at the high post, rather than having him face up and attack. There are ways to get him the ball in motion moving toward the rim. The Spurs need to exploit that and get Wemby going, and if he is doing that in the paint everything else with the Spurs offense will open up.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“It was quick. I think we let that one go” was all Victor Wembanyama said when asked when he and the Spurs felt the game “slipping” away from them.
After all the talk about how emotional Wemby has been throughout the postseason, he sure was calm after the Game 1 loss. This press conference was a departure from the norm for Victor Wembanyama. Like most players, Wembanyama seems to not revel in the postgame presser. Perhaps in an attempt to make him comfortable; perhaps as an accommodation for his height, adjustments are made to the conference room before he enters. The press table is completely cleared, and a wireless microphone is set for him. Wemby prefers going handheld.
When asked a question, there is usually a pause before he answers. Whether he is internalizing the question, translating his response in his head before speaking, or trying out different versions of an answer to find the most relevant, it’s one of the main identifying characteristics of a Wembanyama presser.
None of that was present Wednesday night. Instead, Wemby sat upright as he faced the media, answering questions with an easy manner, as if he knew what would be asked and had crafted the answers beforehand. His confidence was evident, and as he discussed elements of the game that were unsuccessful, Victor didn’t sound the least bit disheartened.
“We let them get an offensive rebound,” Wembanyama stated about a specific moment in the fourth quarter run that secured the game for the Knicks. “So that’s on us. After that, that’s an experienced team, they know how to play with momentum. We had the momentum until late in that game. That’s why I said we let that one go.”
The Spurs, after being criticized for their inexperience, have made adjustments this postseason and persevered as a result. As they have overcome one obstacle after another, resilience has been the antidote to inexperience. As the playoff rounds have progressed and the opponents have changed, Wembanyama’s growth as the Spurs leader has developed in real time.
As the press conference continued, it was as if Wembanyama’s calm had been transfused into the rest of the team. Though they had just lost a Finals game, they seemed upbeat. Not a moment or expression of head-hanging or self deprecation. Every Spur who took the stand carried themselves with an awareness that while this series wouldn’t be easy, the challenge New York offered was not insurmountable. Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell each echoed Wemby’s manner, revealing just how tight the team is and how much faith they have in their superstar.
“It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good,” Wembanyama said. “It’s just like doing the right thing is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”
If the Spurs overcame the West riding Wembanyama’s emotional high, perhaps they will follow his serenity back into this series.
The Knicks have their eyes on the ultimate prize: the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.
In news conferences conducted earlier today, following an exhilarating comeback victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks showcased their composure and focus, both as individuals and as a group.
Star point guard and de facto team captain Jalen Brunson, who battled through pain to put his stamp on the victory with signature fourth quarter heroics, set the tone for the team's mindset moving into Game 2 and beyond.
When asked about Karl-Anthony Towns being able to limit Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama to under 30 percent shooting from the field, Brunson shifted the focus of his praise and insight away from his teammate alone.
"It's all about coming together and figuring out what we have to do to be better," he said. "The chemistry that we have is still continuing to grow and that allows us to play better."
Towns himself echoed the sentiment when asked about how he felt taking on the man-to-man assignment against Wembanyama, coolly affirming that "whatever the team needs me to do to impact winning and to help us get over the hump, I'm willing to do."
This selfless attitude has been showcased by the Knicks not just in their resilient Game 1 win, but throughout the postseason.
Arguably, no player has embodied that mentality better than Josh Hart, whose versatility, relentless effort, and camaraderie with his teammates has made him a cult hero in New York.
Last night, Hart scored just three points on five shots from the floor. However, he was a team high +22 on the floor in his 26 minutes of action, pulling down 15 all-important rebounds, dishing six assists without committing a turnover, and making his presence felt on defense with four steals and a block to boot.
Hart was asked how he was able to continue providing the Knicks with his energetic spark in spite of his shooting struggles in Game 1, and responded exactly how Knicks fans have come to expect from the team's glue guy.
"It takes humility and a willingness to sacrifice... when you have a group of guys that have that, [it] breeds a championship culture," said Hart.
The Knicks may be just three wins away from securing that championship, but in the words of Karl-Anthony Towns, "It's 0-0. The next game is the most important game of the year."
Game 2 of the NBA Finals tips off tomorrow night in San Antonio at 8:30p.m. EST on ABC/ESPN.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3 Dylan Harper #2, Victor Wembanyama #1, De'Aaron Fox #4, Stephon Castle #5 and Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have to be kicking themselves after Game One of the NBA Finals. A fourteen-point lead evaporated in the third and fourth quarters. San Antonio had a chance to come back at the end of the game, but squandered the opportunity in a 105-95 loss. The Spurs have now lost home court advantage and find themselves in a somewhat desperate situation in Game Two as they try to tie the series 1-1.
It was a disappointing game from the Spurs’ two stars, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. Neither shot the ball well and made some critical mistakes on the defensive end. They were thoroughly outplayed by the New York Knicks’ best players, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite the poor performance in Game One, the Spurs are -220 favorites on FanDuel to win Game Two.
Wembanyama and Fox will be the focal point of our player grades for Game One. As a quick reminder, player grades are based on each player’s on-court performance, going beyond just the stat sheet. A “C” grade represents the average performance for an individual (yes, this has been changed). If a player logs fewer than 5 minutes or plays only in garbage time, their grade will be incomplete.
For a brief stretch in the fourth quarter, it looked like Wembanyama would will the Spurs back into the game. Some errant shots and a turnover off his own foot quickly dashed the Spurs’ chances of a win. Wembanyama didn’t get the ball in many advantageous situations offensively. The Knicks did a great job at keeping him out of the paint and forcing him to take tough jumpers. It looked like he was frustrated and started forcing his offense, rather than letting it come within the flow of the game. That played right into New York’s hands.
Towns outperformed him on both ends. KAT held up against Wemby defensively and torched him several times on offense. Wembanyama applied a lot of pressure to Towns on the perimeter, but couldn’t keep up when he blew by him for easy layups. If Wembanyama is going to continue to guard Towns, he needs to find a way to give him space without allowing open jumpers.
Fox was ice cold and took some bad shots from deep, including a couple of erratic pull-up threes. He did a decent job passing the ball, but the Spurs missed open shots. His defense was shoddy. He made a costly mistake in the last minutes of the game, fouling Mikal Bridges on a jump shot after missing a bunny in the paint that would have tied it. Fox is clearly still struggling with an ankle injury, but he needs to give them something offensively if they want to win this series.
Castle kept the Spurs in the game offensively when the Knicks were starting to pull away in the fourth. His mid-range jumper was working for the most part, and he was one of the few Spurs who could get to the rim. He missed a few out-of-rhythm threes as the Knicks closed out more aggressively than he’s seen in previous series.
Castle played effective defense on Brunson and slowed him down significantly in the first half. The problem is that the Knicks made Castle switch off of him way too often. He wasn’t guarding Brunson much in the clutch when the Knicks’ star sealed the game.
Champagnie picked up where he left off in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals, hitting threes in the first half. He cooled off in the second half and never got back on track. The Knicks hunted him on offense down the stretch, setting screens to get him switched onto Brunson. New York’s star guard destroyed him one-on-one late in the game in the run that ultimately led to the Knicks’ victory.
Vassell did a nice job on defense when switched onto tougher matchups like OG Anunoby, Brunson, and Towns. Maybe the Spurs should look at having him take one of those matchups full-time. Vassell’s shot still isn’t falling, even the open ones. He is trying to make up for his cold shooting by playing aggressively everywhere else – Vassell grabbed a team-high four offensive rebounds in the loss.
Harper was the Spurs’ most effective offensive player. His size, strength, and ball control allowed him to punish New York’s smaller guards, particularly in transition. Like Champagnie, he also cooled off significantly in the second half and was noticeably absent in clutch time. It makes sense to trust a veteran like Fox to close out a high-stakes game, but when Harper had proven to cause such a matchup problem for the Knicks, it was a bit confusing to see him watching from the sideline as they pulled away.
Johnson didn’t play much in Game One, partly because he didn’t make the most of his offensive opportunities. He wasn’t able to use his size to bully his way into the paint like he normally does. He hit one open three, but didn’t contribute much outside of that.
Grade: C
Luke Kornet
10 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 3 fouls, -7
The Kornet minutes weren’t as stark as they have been in previous series. It looked like the Spurs would thrive with Kornet on the floor after he broke up a Mitchell Robinson lob. But in his next stint on the floor, Robinson landed an and-one dunk on his head. With Wembanyama looking more and more worn down by this long playoff run, Kornet’s minutes become even more critical. San Antonio has to survive when Kornet is on the floor so Wembanyama can get a breather. They were a step closer to that in Game One.
Barnes played the second-most minutes off the bench. He gave them some needed offense as a forward who can put the ball on the deck a bit and hustle after rebounds. But he continues to struggle from three-point range. If he’s not shooting the ball well, it’s hard for him to make a large impact on the game.
Bryant was brought in to play physical defense on Brunson, and it backfired. Brunson is too smart and in control of his body to let an undisciplined defender like Bryant take him out of his rhythm. Bryant would be better served guarding one of the Knicks’ more physical players, like Anunoby or Towns. This might not be the series to play the rookie.
The Spurs have a “serious problem” if Karl-Anthony Towns can build on his Game 1 dominance for the rest of the NBA Finals.
ESPN star and NBA champion Kendrick Perkins lauded the Knicks’ center for his outing on Wednesday night and declared that he “exposed” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
“Imma tell the Spurs fans this, y’all got a problem…y’all have a serious problem,” Perkins said Thursday on ESPN’s “First Take.”
Karl-Anthony Towns’ performance in Game 1, especially when matched up against Victor Wembanyama, powered the Knicks’ 105-95 win on June 3, 2026 in the NBA Finals opener. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Towns’ dominant performance saw the big man post 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists in New York’s 105-95 win — but his contributions went far beyond the offensive side.
Kendrick Perkins says KAT EXPOSED Victor Wembanyama last night:
“Imma tell the Spurs fans this, y’all got a problem. Y’all have a serious problem. The DPOY got exposed last night…. He showed the world that Wemby can’t guard him!” pic.twitter.com/HcG8DbOlJE
Wembanyama, who finished third in NBA MVP voting, was kept to a pedestrian 26 points on 6-of-21 shooting, including an abysmal 2-for-12 mark with Towns as the primary defender.
The 7-foot-4 phenom also committed four of his six turnovers with Towns covering him.
“The Defensive Player of the Year got exposed last night,” Perkins said. “‘Imma say this. Yes, Towns played the best defensive game of his life last night, but offensively, he showed the world that Wemby can’t guard him. He is a matchup problem for the Spurs.
Karl-Anthony Towns, driving on Victor Wembanyama, finished the Knicks’ Game 1 victory with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The way his ability to stretch the floor, and then he showed his versatility by his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. He was going through Wemby’s chest. He wasn’t shying away from physicality. And when they decided to put a smaller player on him, guess what the Knicks did? They searched him out. Here we go, go to you. And when Wemby came to double, he was dropping no-looks, he was dropping passes, he was finding shooters.
Towns was instrumental in the Knicks’ 14-point comeback win, including a monster third quarter where he notched 10 points and four rebounds — while also hyping up his teammates.
Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Towns’ versatility after the thrilling victory.
“He’s a problem. You put a small guy on him, he’s got a chance to offensive rebound. You put a big guy on him, he’s got a chance to pick-and-pop and go around guys,” Brown said.
“We have to just keep trying to move him around based on who is guarding him throughout the course of the ballgame, but he was huge for us with his double-double.”
SAN ANTONIO — Jose Alvarado’s first thought when Jalen Brunson hobbled off the court and went to the locker room echoed what every Knicks fan was thinking.
“He better come back,” Alvardo recalled of the development early in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Then his instincts took over.
Jalen Brunson went to the locker room at the end of the first quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals.
“My second thought is, this is what I do. I wasn’t scared of the moment,” the backup Knicks point guard said Thursday. “This is something I live for, and I just want to take advantage of it and do what the team needs.”
Alvarado was part of another strong effort from the Knicks bench, their reserves piling up 28 points on 11-of-25 shooting in a 105-95, come-from-behind win over the Spurs.
There were major contributions from Mitchell Robinson (six rebounds), Landry Shamet (13 points) and Miles McBride (six points, four assists, plus-11 rating).
Alvarado was critical, tallying seven points and four rebounds in the first half while Brunson was getting his knee checked out. He was the first Knick to really challenge Victor Wembanyama, and he drew a goaltending call on the 7-foot-4 superstar.
“I don’t fear nobody,” Alvarado said. “He’s a great player, he’s going to block shots regardless of what you do. That one went my way.”
The quality of the second unit is the biggest difference between this year’s Knicks and the edition that lost in the Eastern Conference finals a year ago.
It has been evident throughout the postseason, but particularly in the conference semifinals against the 76ers, when OG Anunoby suffered a mild hamstring strain. McBride and Shamet emerged in his absence. The group has also enabled the starters to stay fresh.
Jose Alvarado drives up court during the Knicks’ Game 1 win over the Spurs in the NBA Finals. NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks bench is seventh in points per game and eighth in minutes among the 16 teams to qualify for the playoffs.
A year ago, the unit was 15th in both categories. They aren’t nearly as reliant on the starters.
“Opportunity was the main thing,” McBride said when asked what coach Mike Brown has done well with developing the second unit. “He’s putting a lot of guys in different spots and he’s just allowing us to be us. We can play at a high level. I feel like a lot of guys can be starters at different places. We’re all happy here, we’re happy to impact the game at such a high level.”
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama's raw counting stats from his NBA Finals debut were impressive: 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Only three players ever put up those three numbers in their first Finals game and all are Hall of Famers and legends: Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Elvin Hayes.
Wemby's numbers were a mirage.
Anyone who watched the game knows the truth: Wembanyama did not have a sparkling NBA Finals debut.
• He was pressing when it was a clutch game late. He wanted so badly to make the big play — like his 3-pointer against Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the last round — that he took ill-advised hero-ball shots that not only were off the mark but also hurt the Spurs, who did not explore better matchups and opportunities. • Wembanyama shot 6-of-21 from the floor (he did most of his damage at the free throw line). • Wemby had six turnovers and kept trying to put the ball on the floor and dribble through and around Knicks defenders, too often getting stripped. • New York scored 50 points in the paint, an area Wemby normally owns. New York had a plan where shooters took jump shots contested by Wembanyama, pulling him out of the paint, then Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart (among other Knicks) did a fantastic job of sliding into the space vacated by Wemby to get the offensive rebound and score. New York scored 23 points on offensive rebounds in Game 1.
"I was bad tonight. It's not more complicated than that," Wembanyama said after the loss.
Despite the Game 1 loss, Wembanyama was calm on Thursday. He appeared relaxed after having had time to watch and digest the firm from Game 1. His easy confidence was back.
Which is not how he played in crunch time of Game 1. Wembanyama, trying to force things, trying too hard to be the man and make the big play in the clutch, was one of the few signs we have seen from him that this is his first deep playoff run. It's a tough line to walk, to find that balance between imposing your will and taking what the defense and the game give you as an elite player. "It comes with experience," Karl-Anthony Towns said of walking that line. "I've been in playoff series where I've done too much, and it was a detriment to the team; and I've been in playoff series where I've done too little, and it was a detriment to the team.
"It's a fine line. It comes with experience where you learn what truly is best for the team and being able to find that balance of being aggressive and impacting the game with your skill set, but also utilizing that skill set to make others better. Something that experience has taught me. I think right now, I'm doing the best I've done at it."
Spurs need to be “normal”
Less than 24 hours later, Wembanyama did not seem rattled by being outplayed for a night by Karl-Anthony Towns. For much of the season, Wemby has sounded (and played) more like a veteran than a third-year player, and that presence was back on the podium Thursday. He sounded like a guy who had the answers to the test.
"Really, I think the reason we lost that game isn't even technical. It's not even technical, tactical," Wembanyama said. "We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal."
What is being "normal" for these young Spurs?
"'Normal' means trusting each other, trusting the basketball gods, trusting the game plan, executing, and not relying on talent so much to make shots or to save the day," Wembanyama said. "We've been playing a certain way all season. We've been successful this way. There's no reason to change the day the Finals start."
Put in more traditional terms, Wembanyama and the Spurs think they just need to make the play-better adjustment: Don't be sped up by the Knicks' defense, move the ball better (just 16 assists), and shoot better than 25.6% from 3-point range.
All much easier said than done against a Knicks team that has won a dozen games in a row and is playing with supreme confidence. Whatever the adjustments, the Spurs need to play better in Game 2 because if they drop the first two at home, this quickly becomes too deep a hole to climb out of.
And that Game 2 turnaround has to start with Wembanyama playing better.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Donald Trump confirmed he will be attending the NBA finals next week at Madison Square Garden.Photograph: Samuel Corum/EPA
Donald Trump, a longtime New York Knicks fan, said he plans to attend an NBA finals game at Madison Square Garden next week at the invitation of the team’s owner.
Describing himself as a “big fan” of the team and owner James Dolan, Trump said Thursday that he will be in the arena for at least one game next week. The NBA believes it would make him the first sitting president to attend an NBA finals game.
“The answer is yes – he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump said of Dolan’s invitation. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he was eyeing Game 3 on Monday but didn’t rule out Game 4 on Wednesday. “Maybe I’ll do both.”
Trump, who is simultaneously contending with a war in Iran, strife in Congress and looming midterm elections, said he made sure to catch some of Game 1 on Wednesday as the Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs and took a 1-0 lead in the series.
“I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant,” Trump said. “Really amazing.”
Asked about his plans for next week, Trump went on to offer his own game recap, giving nothing but praise for the Knicks. Taking questions after an event on his administration’s efforts to promote the US coal industry, Trump said it “wasn’t looking good” for the Knicks early on but commended them for holding back Victor Wembanyama, the towering Spurs center.
“I say, how do you guard this guy? He’s 7ft 5in and he’s got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it. They’re really great.”
The NBA said it believes no other sitting president has attended an NBA finals game. Earlier Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said some former presidents had attended. He recalled Trump as a Knicks fan long before his political career.
“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said. “I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden.”
Silver reiterated a message he conveyed Wednesday amid reports that Trump might attend – that sports can be unifying, even in deeply divided political times.
“We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”
The commissioner acknowledged that Trump’s presence will require extra security in and around Madison Square Garden. That would almost certainly mean longer transit times and logistical issues for fans.
“I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”
Trump is not expected to be the only prominent political figure at the Garden for the first NBA finals staged at the arena since 1999. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has also said he plans to attend Monday’s game, though he suggested there is little chance the two will cross paths.
“I will be in a very different section,” Mamdani said Thursday at an unrelated news conference.
The mayor’s office said he would be paying his own way for a ticket that was fetching upwards of $8,000 on the secondary market as of Thursday afternoon. Trump, meanwhile, said he would be attending as Dolan’s guest, setting up a finals scene that could feature two of New York’s most prominent political figures under one roof.
After Brunson hit clutch shots down the stretch in the Knicks’ Game 1 win in the NBA Finals over the Spurs on Wednesday night, Ball, the NBA point guard, declared Brunson the best Knicks player ever in an X post.
“Late commentary here but Brunson the best Knick to do it… like ever,” Ball wrote.
Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 30 points in their NBA Finals Game 1 win over the Spurs on June 3, 2026. Jason Szenes for The New York Post
Brunson scored 30 points in New York’s 105-95 win as the Knicks rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter.
With the Knicks trailing 95-94 with 1:50 to go in the fourth, the 29-year-old hit a corner 3 to put New York up by two points and give the team a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
After signing a four-year deal with New York in 2022, Brunson has turned the Knicks into a perennial playoff contender with his shot-making prowess and crafty finishing.
The former Mavericks guard has averaged over 24 points per game every year in a Knicks uniform, including a career-high 28.7 in 2023-24.
But even after Brunson helped lead the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, not all fans agree with Ball’s bold statement.
Lonzo Ball Getty Images
“Not yet. Clyde and Willis are ahead of him for now, but him and Ewing are debatable,” Knicks fan account @BrunsonIsMVP posted on X Thursday afternoon.
“There is a guy named Walt Frazier who won TWO TITLES for the @nyknicks,” X user @DGUNZ22 also posted.
Some fans think that Brunson can be deemed the best Knick of all time, but they believe he has to win three more games to earn that title.
After his big Game 1, Brunson and New York look to head home up 2-0 in the series.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at the Barclays Center.
The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly made a decision on their superstar.
Bucks ownership is expected to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo before the 2026 NBA Draft, according to insider Brett Siegel.
“We have heard from multiple sources, one of which is from a team that was involved in Giannis trade chatter at the trade deadline, that have said the Bucks made up their decision and ownership will be moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft,” Siegel said on the ClutchPoints podcast.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after scoring against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at the Barclays Center. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
Antetokounmpo has spent his entire career with the Bucks after being drafted 15th overall in 2013.
But now it seems like his time in Wisconsin is coming to an end.
Since winning a championship with the team in 2020, the Bucks have been unable to reach the Conference Finals.
This year, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Antetokounmpo has just one more year plus a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
Rather than lose him for nothing in free agency, the Bucks have reportedly been shopping him around since the trade deadline.
Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam may be ready to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. AP
Now that the team is seemingly ready to let Antetokounmpo go, one team from the trade deadline sweepstakes has emerged as a favorite to land the two-time NBA MVP.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 reacts on the court in a game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
While the Heat remain in front, other teams, such as the Portland Trail Blazers and Boston Celtics, have been rumored to have interest in Antetokounmpo.
