President Donald Trump drew a furious reaction from basketball fans during Monday night’s NBA Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, as loud boos rang out not long after he arrived.
Trump, 79, took in the matchup from a private suite with his granddaughter Kai Trump, the oldest child of Donald Trump Jr.
A longtime Knicks supporter, the President attended at the invitation of team owner James Dolan. But his visit created major disruption for Manhattan, with security measures closing roughly ten blocks around the arena.
The NYPD also rolled out airport-style screening, slowing movement around Madison Square Garden and nearby Penn Station to a crawl.
Inside the building, the reception was anything but warm. Many fans had spent thousands of dollars to attend, and some were irritated that Trump—who hasn’t been to a Knicks game in years—had arrived amid sweeping lockups that also derailed plans for a fan meet-up outside the venue. That gathering had been intended for supporters priced out of the arena, where certain seats reportedly climbed well beyond $10,000. Instead, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Monday that Knicks fans could attend a free watch party at Bryant Park in Manhattan.
Madison Square Garden also arranged additional watch parties in Brooklyn and at Wollman Rink in Central Park—an operation that was once run by Trump’s company.
Mamdani also attended Game 3, though his experience looked very different from Trump’s. Rather than a private box, the mayor opted for standing-room-only entry, paying $1,000 to be in the crowd backing the home team.
Beyond the disruptions, some fans questioned Trump’s sudden courtside enthusiasm for another reason: his reputation for ‘cursing’ teams after publicly supporting them.
Online, believers in the “jinx” pointed to past examples, including Trump backing the Kansas City Chiefs shortly before their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New England Patriots taking a heavy defeat after owner Robert Kraft spent time with him. Up to now, the superstition has largely centered on the NFL, but wary Knicks supporters have already wondered whether it could spill into the NBA.
As a result, the night at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” highlighted two completely different realities. In one, a billionaire team owner and a billionaire President watched from the comfort of a luxury suite. In the other, the city’s mayor stood shoulder-to-shoulder with everyday fans who navigated intense security, thick congestion, and punishing ticket prices just to yell for their team.
Still, once play begins, the spotlight returns to the court. The Knicks entered the night chasing their best title opportunity since 1973, owning a 2-0 advantage over the Spurs. With Manhattan buzzing, the only mystery left was whether the Garden’s intensity would push New York to a 3-0 series grip—or whether Trump’s appearance would become the latest chapter in the sports “curse” storyline.