The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks will play their third NBA Finals game on Monday. A prominent guest has announced himself for this. US President Trump wants to follow the game. New York fans are anything but happy.
June 8, 2026, 4:59 p.mJune 8, 2026, 4:59 p.m
Until recently, New York Knicks fans were in a party mood: The team was in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and won its first two games against the San Antonio Spurs. Two more wins and the Knicks will win the title. The third game is on Monday – and the Knicks fans are excited.
The Knicks fans celebrate their team, which has been in the NBA Finals again since 1999.Image: Getty Images North America
But the anticipation was unexpectedly dampened last week when US President Donald Trump announced that he would attend at least one of the games in person. He was invited by the Knicks owner, James Dolan.
This has consequences for basketball fans. The public viewings around Madison Square Garden, where the game will be played on Monday, have been canceled. Fans were also instructed to arrive at the game at least two hours in advance because security measures were increased because of Trump. Bags are not allowed on the premises.
The New York Police Department said in a statement that the measures were determined together with the Secret Service. They would probably only apply to Game 3; it is expected that the public viewings for Game 4 will take place again as normal.
Of course, that depends on Trump, who is also a long-time Knicks fan, like them AP News Agency reported. If he is also present at the potentially decisive Game 4 and the public viewings are closed again, this could become a challenge for the police.
Even without a visit from the US President, she has her hands full at the public parties. Game 2, played in San Antonio on Friday, saw more than a dozen arrests around Madison Square Garden. Around 1,000 police officers were deployed in and around the MSG.
At Game 2 in New York there were arrests during the public viewing and the subsequent celebration.Image: Anadolu
Trump and Mamdani at the same game
And Trump’s visit is tough anyway. Since taking office, he has avoided New York, writes the New York Times. This despite the fact that he grew up in Queens and gained fame and fortune in the city.
Zohran Mamdani is now mayor of New York – a declared Trump opponent who has already publicly exchanged blows with the president. According to the Times, he also wants to watch the game live. Despite their differences, Mamdani said in a radio interview on Friday that anyone and everyone “who is rooting for the Knicks at this moment” is welcome.
Angry fans want to boo Trump
However, not everyone seems so open: sports commentator and host of SiriusXM radio, Stephen A. Smith, declared that Trump should stay away from the game. “I don’t want him there,” he said on his radio show. If Trump goes through with his plans, Smith fears chaos in the city.
The fans are also angry. “The king returns to Madison Square Garden,” writes an X user. “The first final in 20 damn years and we have to have a damn criminal child molester with record-low approval ratings killing the mood,” explains another. “Doing all this to have a rapist sitting front row at your game is crazy,” said another comment.
The fans want to join in the excitement – preferably without Trump.Image: Anadolu
Some fans also announce promotions. “He will be booed like never before,” writes one user. “On Monday I want to hear every New Yorker in the MSG say ‘Fuck You Trump,’” it continues. “I hope the boos will wake up our ancestors, come Monday,” commented another user.
Others call for moderation. A consolation for the fans: Not all public viewings in New York were canceled, only those directly at Madison Square Garden. But tickets for other locations such as Central Park are practically sold out. They can still hope to take over the entire city again in the deciding game.