Adam Silver Responds To President Trump Attending Game 3 Of NBA Finals

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has offered his thoughts on President Donald Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Trump, a Queens native, tried to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. His hometown team had other plans though, sweeping their oppponent and earning a spot in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. According to the president, Knicks owner James Dolan invited him to Game 3 this upcoming Monday.

"The answer is yes, he's invited me," Trump told reporters. "I'll be going [to Monday's game]."

Trump even shared his thoughts on the Knicks winning Game 1 on the road.

"I watched the end of the game – they were dominant," Trump said. "Wemby's a great player. He's going to be a great player and he is already a great player. I said, ‘How do you guard this guy? He's 7-foot-5 and has a great shot.' But they found a way to do it. They're a great team."

There's no question Game 3 will draw even more attention due to Trump's presence alone.

Silver believes Trump's trip to Madison Square Garden could "emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart." Suffice to say, he's more than okay with the president shining the spotlight on the NBA Finals.

"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," Silver said, via The Guardian.

What to expect for Game 3 at MSG.

According to the New York Post, the staff at Madison Square Garden will have security measures in place for Game 3.

"MSG performed security walkthroughs in preparation for his potential visit, according to the sources," the New York Post reported. "New York City mayor and diehard Knicks fan Zohran Mamdani also plans to attend Game 3, although he is not expected to sit alongside the president, according to sources. The White House did not immediately respond to comment."

Fans attending Game 3 may want to brace for some delays.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM.