A forensic lip reader has claimed President Donald Trump appeared to suggest a possible return to New York during Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, including the prospect of taking part in an NBA trophy presentation.
Trump’s visit to Madison Square Garden on Monday, June 8, added a major political element to one of New York’s biggest sporting occasions in years, with the Knicks hosting an NBA Finals game at the arena for the first time since 1999.
It was also a historic appearance in its own right. Trump became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game, arriving as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan as New York tried to take a commanding 3–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The area around the arena was heavily restricted, with roads closed, security dramatically increased, and spectators forced to make their way through extensive checks before entering.
However, the night did not end the way Knicks fans had hoped, as the Spurs claimed a 115–111 victory to cut New York’s series lead to 2–1 and ensure the Finals would return to San Antonio for at least Game 5.
The most striking detail from the evening comes from forensic lip reader NJ Hickling, who reviewed footage of Trump speaking courtside with Madison Square Garden owner James Dolan.
Because the footage does not include clear audio of the full exchange, the interpretation has not been independently confirmed, and lip-reading from broadcast clips can be affected by camera angles, crowd noise and partial visibility.
According to Hickling’s interpretation, Trump seemed to raise the possibility of attending Game 4, while also hinting that he wanted to have a prominent role if the Knicks were close to securing the title.
The conversation appeared to involve another person who was not present, with Trump telling Dolan “Why wouldn’t you accept our friendship, he’s loyal.”
Dolan then responds “I’m pi***d off at his name.”
Trump, waving his hand in disagreement, replies: “Oh, that’s not it. Let me bring him next time, you have got it so wrong with him.
“I can bring him back to you, with confidence. I’m not just saying that, unless you want to put the feeler out.”
Dolan then tells Trump ‘anything for you’ before the President appears to shift the discussion toward a possible appearance later in the week.
“If you want me to come to the game on Wednesday, then he’s gotta be here,” Trump says, with his granddaughter Kai nearby.
“You gotta remember, I gotta pull with this. Maybe I could do the trophy, the trophy. This should be gold, don’t say no today. I’ll bet you a round of golf.’
The remark appears to indicate that Trump thought he could potentially be involved in handing over the NBA championship trophy if New York were to win the series, a responsibility usually handled by the league during the post-game ceremony.
In the NBA Finals, the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy is typically presented by the commissioner to the winning team’s ownership and players, making the idea of a president inserting himself into the moment an unusual one.
Although the Knicks were beaten on the night, the idea of a presidential-style trophy moment brought another unexpected storyline to an already intense finals series.
The Knicks had entered Game 3 with a 2–0 lead after winning the first two games in San Antonio, but Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs responded at Madison Square Garden to keep the series alive and quiet what had been an increasingly confident New York crowd.
The best-of-seven contest is set to continue, with Game 4 scheduled at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, June 10. Game 5 will then be played in San Antonio on Saturday, June 13, and a potential Game 6 back in New York remains possible if the series continues, meaning another Trump appearance has not been ruled out.
Off the court, Trump’s attendance significantly changed the experience for fans trying to get to the arena, and many were left frustrated.
A large security zone was put in place around Madison Square Garden, with the New York Police Department and Secret Service closing streets from West 30th Street to West 35th Street.
Traffic restrictions affected both vehicles and pedestrians, while outdoor watch parties that had been planned in the area were called off because of the president’s visit.
Reports said fans had to wait in long lines stretching across several blocks, moving through multiple security stages, including metal detectors positioned well away from the venue.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver admitted the added security caused disruption, but defended Trump’s presence by referring to him as a long-time Knicks supporter and “a genuine fan” who was welcome at the game.
Inside Madison Square Garden, the reaction was far from unanimous.
Trump was booed by sections of the crowd when he appeared on the jumbotron during the national anthem, before cheers broke out moments later when the screen switched to Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
Other fans could be heard cheering and chanting “USA,” creating a split reaction that reflected the unusual mix of sports, politics and security concerns surrounding the night.
For some fans, the combination of delays, road closures, and a divided atmosphere led to debate over whether the surrounding spectacle had taken attention away from the basketball itself.
For others, the lip-reader’s alleged interpretation of Trump’s courtside conversation only added to the sense that Game 3 had become about far more than the Knicks and Spurs.
With the series still unresolved, there is still a chance that both the sporting tension and the off-court drama could make their way back to New York before the finals are over.