The Knicks had waited decades for an NBA Finals night like this at Madison Square Garden, but Game 3 did not go to plan.
San Antonio won 115-111 to cut New York’s series lead to 2-1, with Victor Wembanyama delivering the kind of performance that can change the feel of a Finals series.
Yet the game itself was not the only story. Donald Trump’s attendance became a major talking point before tip-off, during the anthem and throughout the night, with mixed reactions inside and outside MSG. He was not there alone.
Donald Trump joined by granddaughter, Jared Kushner and cabinet officials
They watched from a protected luxury suite rather than a regular courtside seat, with Trump’s bulletproof glass suite quickly becoming part of the spectacle around Game 3.
The reception was just as notable. Rachel Nichols said the response to Trump inside MSG was louder than the boos aimed at the Spurs.
The president was joined by Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary and former North Dakota governor, who has become one of the more prominent figures in his cabinet.
Lee Zeldin was also present. The EPA Administrator is a former New York congressman and Republican gubernatorial candidate, making him a familiar political name in the state.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was another cabinet member in attendance.
Kai Trump, the president’s granddaughter, was also there. She has built her own public profile through golf and social media, with her presence likely intended to humanise a leader suffering from declining popularity across the country.
Jared Kushner completed the group. Trump’s son-in-law previously served as a senior White House adviser and remains one of the most recognizable figures around the Trump family. His appearance comes amid growing tensions with Albania over a planned land-grab.
Trump’s presence inevitably took attention away from the basketball, even on a night as big as this one.
He will not be there for Game 4 at the Garden, which now looks like the most important game in Knicks modern history.
- READ MORE: Donald Trump slams Stephen A. Smith’s US President plans with low IQ jab after Knicks Game 3 defeat
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