New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is counting down the hours until Game 3 of the NBA Finals, not just because it's a chance to take a 3-0 series lead, but because he'll be playing in front of a very special guest: President Donald Trump.
Trump, a Queens native, confirmed this week he'll be courtside at Madison Square Garden for Friday's matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. The president had reportedly eyed attending the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Knicks wrapped that up quickly against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, the commander-in-chief gets to watch his hometown team battle for a title on the biggest stage.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver welcomed the news, saying, "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's comments echo the league's embrace of Trump's finals presence as a unifying moment.
Robinson, never shy about his political leanings, made it clear he's pumped to compete with Trump watching. When a fan on social media suggested the big man would elevate his game with the president in the building, Robinson responded, "You ain't lying brother." The exchange has since gone viral, with TikTok users posting videos of themselves hooping under the caption: "How Mitchell Robinson is about to be moving with Trump in attendance for Game 3."
But not everyone in the Knicks locker room shares Robinson's enthusiasm. Forward Josh Hart has a history of criticizing Trump, dating back to 2018 when he called out the president for insulting LeBron James' intelligence. "It's just childish. That's someone who literally just opened a school in this past week helping kids from the inner city, kids who don't have parents in their lives," Hart said at the time, via Silver Screen and Roll. "Someone who's a role model obviously for young African Americans. So to see that, it's childish and it's a shame that that's our president." Two years later, Hart celebrated Joe Biden's election victory with an expletive-laden post urging Trump out of the White House.
The contrasting reactions within the team highlight the complex dynamics of having a polarizing political figure at a championship event. How the Madison Square Garden crowd will greet Trump remains a wild card, especially given recent commentary from figures like Jimmy Kimmel, who torched Trump over his finals appearance.
For Robinson, though, the focus is on basketball. The center has been a force in the playoffs, and with Trump in attendance, fans are expecting an epic performance. The Knicks lead the series 2-0 after a thrilling Game 2 victory, which included Karl-Anthony Towns' emotional tribute to his late mother. Now, with the series shifting to New York, Game 3 promises to be a spectacle both on and off the court.
Whether Trump's presence will be a distraction or a motivator remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Mitchell Robinson can't wait to put on a show for the president.
