New York Knicks owner James Dolan is pushing back hard against whispers that President Donald Trump nodded off during Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. The rumors, which spread like wildfire after ESPN's Stephen A. Smith floated the idea on First Take, have Dolan setting the record straight.
“I was with him the whole time. We were talking the whole time. He was very much awake, he was very much engaged,” Dolan told WFAN Radio on Wednesday. “Look, that’s the first sitting president of the United States to ever go to an NBA Finals. That’s a huge honor – and he’s a New Yorker. Whatever you think about him, he’s a Knicks fan. I think he’s a great guy. I’ve known him for over 30 years. Having him there was a great honor.”
The drama began when Smith, never one to mince words, claimed on his show that Trump appeared to be asleep during the Knicks' loss. “The brother wasn’t awake,” Smith said. “Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe?’ Well, what should we call you?”
But Dolan, who shared a suite with Trump throughout the game, insists the president was locked in. The Knicks ultimately dropped Game 3, putting them in a 2-1 series hole against the San Antonio Spurs, but Dolan isn't pointing fingers at his VIP guest.
Trump, however, won't be at Madison Square Garden for Thursday's Game 4. The White House cited “scheduling conflicts and obligations” for his absence, leaving the Knicks to face the Spurs without their most famous fan courtside.
That hasn't stopped Dolan from making a bold promise. During his radio appearance, he guaranteed a win for the home crowd. “I expect to win tonight,” Dolan said. “If I make predictions here, they come true. We’re gonna win tonight, we’re gonna win the Finals.”
The Knicks certainly need a spark after a lackluster Game 3 performance that drew criticism from fans and media alike. Some of that frustration boiled over into ugly incidents that led to arrests, and even actor Ben Stiller has pleaded with fans to show more class moving forward.
Meanwhile, the Spurs are brimming with confidence. Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama has been a force, and his sister Eve has been stealing headlines of her own. But the Knicks have their own reasons for optimism, including a potential blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo that could reshape the franchise.
Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET, and Dolan will be in the building, ready to see if his guarantee holds up. Whether Trump is there or not, the Knicks know they need to protect home court to keep their championship hopes alive.
