From cleansing Madison Square Garden to sneaking in lucky items, New York Knicks fans are sparing no effort to manifest an NBA Finals win.
But after the team's loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3, some are saying the superstitions even apply to the president of the United States.
President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game when he went to the matchup at Madison Square Garden on June 8.
His visit led to amplified security measures around the arena, plus a chorus of boos from those inside. It also coincided with the Knicks first loss in 13 games, a broken streak some attributed to Trump.
The president, though, seemed to have a positive experience. He told reporters the following day that he heard "mostly cheers" from the crowd.
Still, some Knicks fans would seem to prefer he passes on Game 4 at the Garden on June 10. Here's what know about his possible attendance and fans' reactions.
Knicks fans give Trump mixed blame for Game 3 loss
After Game 3, Knicks fans had mixed opinions about whether Trump's attendance affected the outcome.
"I blame Trump," fan Ty Jackson told Reuters outside the Garden.
"I don't think it was Trump's fault but the aura – like the fact that they had to show him on the jumbotron, everybody was booing him, like we shouldn't even have to do that, we should be cheering," another, Taylor Perlmutter, told the outlet.
On social media, the consensus was similarly divided.
"I blame Trump for this Knicks loss. Bad juju," one person wrote on X.
"If you play badly, admit it," another X user said. "If you can't beat them, practice. Don't scapegoat the president next time, it's embarrassing."
Is Trump attending NBA Finals Game 4?
The White House has not confirmed whether or not Trump will be attending the next game at Madison Square Garden, though many signs are pointing to him not being there.
Trump told reporters last week that his invitation from his friend and Knicks owner James Dolan applied to both Games 3 and 4.
As of 9 a.m. ET on June 10, the president's schedule does not show a planned trip to New York.
ESPN's senior NBA insider Shams Charania also reported that Trump is not expected to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also announced that a watch party outside the Garden was back on for Game 4 after the previous one was canceled, in part because of heightened security in the area.
Stephen A. Smith, Cardi B among those blaming Trump for Knicks loss
Some celebrities are even joining the chorus of those Knicks fans aiming fault at the president.
ESPN television personality Stephen A. Smith said during an episode of his podcast "The Stephen A. Smith Show" that the president had "no business" attending the game.
"It has nothing to do with politics. Zero," Smith said. "It has everything to do with the fervor and the momentum that exists surrounding the New York Knicks and he is singlehandedly disrupting everything that the New York Knicks have been vibing with."
After the game, Trump responded to Smith's comments.
"I think he's a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I'm not sure that Stephen has that. I don't think he does actually," Trump told reporters.
Smith later doubled down on his opinion that the president interrupted the team's "mojo."
Like Smith, rapper Cardi B, who performed the halftime show at the event, also criticized Trump after the game.

The Bronx-born rapper responded to a comment during an Instagram Live session after the game asking whether Trump was "bad luck" for the team.
"It probably was. But it is what it is," she said, per social media reposts. "You can't stop the president from … going to a game. But it did feel a little dark in there."
"It felt like the principal was there, and everybody had to be on their best behavior," she added. "But, nevertheless."
Charlamagne tha God, Charles Barkley address Trump's affect on NBA Finals
On the other side of the conversation, some big names weren't quick to point blame at Trump for the Spurs win.
Former NBA star Charles Barkley said the Knicks simply did not play to their full potential.
"That has nothing to do with it," he told TikToker Adam Glyn when asked whether Trump's attendance could have influenced the game. "I thought the Spurs outplayed them."
Similarly, Charlamagne tha God also said on "The Breakfast Club" that the outcome of the game was not tied to the president, though his being there did have an affect on fans.
"Donald Trump wasn't responsible for the loss of the game, but he was responsible for the loss of joy that the New York Knicks fans had been feeling," he said.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Trump be at NBA Finals Game 4? Knicks fans hope not