New York Knicks fans are riding high after a dominant 2-0 start in the NBA Finals. But there's one thing threatening to ruin the party: a presidential visit. President Donald Trump has confirmed he'll attend Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday, and the fanbase is not happy about it.
As the series shifts to New York, the Knicks have all the momentum after a gritty 21-point, 13-rebound performance from Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 2. But instead of focusing on Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, many fans are laser-focused on keeping Trump away from the arena. They believe his presence could hex the team's championship aspirations.
“Please keep Trump away from the next game he will destroy the whole vibe the Knicks are having,” one fan pleaded on social media. Another was even more blunt: “Trump will kill the Knicks. Everything he gets involved with dies. If Trump stays away, Knicks in 4. If Trump goes, Spurs in 7.”
The fear is real, and it's widespread. Fans have taken to X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms to voice their concerns, with many echoing Stephen A. Smith's call for Trump to skip the finals. One fan wrote, “The Knicks are up 2-0. Why tempt fate now? I'd much rather see Trump welcome the Knicks to the White House after they win the championship and celebrate with a table full of McDonald's. Don't put the curse on us before the job is finished.”
Despite the outcry, Trump appears undeterred. He told reporters he received an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan, and he's eager to take in a playoff game at the iconic venue. That hasn't stopped the jokes and warnings, though, with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel among those torching Trump over the planned appearance.
The Knicks themselves are staying focused on the task at hand. Towns, who has been a steadying force throughout the playoffs, credited the team's poise down the stretch. “I have been on the other side where you're a young team and you're trying to do a lot to win the game,” he said. “And I think that for us, we keep leaning on experience and we keep leaning on the word 'execution.'”
Meanwhile, Wembanyama and the Spurs had their chances in Game 2 but couldn't close the deal. The rookie phenom admitted the “high of the conference finals” may have dooms them in the loss. Now they face a must-win situation at MSG, where the crowd will be electric—and potentially presidential.
Whether Trump listens to the fans or not, one thing is certain: the Knicks faithful will be watching closely. Game 3 tips off at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, and for now, the only jinx they want to see is the one on the Spurs' offense.
