By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
As the NBA Finals 2026 heat up, United States president Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance for Monday’s Game 3 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in Madison Square Garden, addressing both player conduct and the soaring costs of the games.
“Is that what he did? What did he mean by that?” the 79-year-old politician, media personality, and businessman, currently serving as the 47th president, wondered during a media session on Friday, sidestepping a chance to weigh in on a conservative online firestorm regarding French Spurs star Victor Wembanyama standing with his arms crossed during the national anthem of the United States before Game 1.
While Trump was complimentary of the French phenom, noting he ‘looks like he’s gonna be a great player’, he recommended that reporters seek answers from Wemby himself regarding the posture.
Instead, he focused on his own upcoming availability for the next fixture of the championship best-of-seven series in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. However, he expressed little sympathy for ordinary fans priced out. “They can watch it on television. It’s sorta semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes,” he said.
As Trump prepares to watch his hometown team, local and federal officials are planning for heightened security in New York City and MSG.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (115-104, 109-93, 121-108, 130-93)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 3-4 (115-122, 122-113, 123-108, 82-103, 127-114, 91-118, 103-111)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks 0-1 (95-105)
Make