Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t particularly want to talk about President Donald Trump attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks take on the Spurs in Game 3 Monday night of the NBA Finals, their first home game in the series and one where a win would leave them just one away from the team’s first championship in more than 50 years.
The 7-foot center from New Jersey was asked twice Sunday if he had any thoughts about Trump being the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game — and for that to happen here in New York.
Towns became the first-ever Knick to notch at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and multiple three-pointers after a thrilling Game 2. He didn’t reference the president attending Game 3 either time he was asked.
He leaned on the word “hope.”
“Fans have earned the right and deserve the right to see Finals basketball played here, at Madison Square Garden,” Towns said. “For it to be a long time to see Finals basketball, it’s up to us to bring it, give ’em something to get loud about, give them something to cheer for, and also give them something to believe in.”
“Hope has been brought back to the city. We’ve revitalized that word,” Towns added. “But the word success hasn’t been seen in a long time, so we have to continue to fight to bring that word back to fruition.”
Knicks forward OG Anunoby, one of the most clutch players this postseason, said the president’s presence won’t influence the team.
“I think he’ll just be there watching the game,” Anunoby. “We’re going to go as usual, just play our game, try to win the game.”
Superstar Jalen Brunson, who also considers New Jersey his home state, has not appeared to have directly addressed the president’s attendance.
Knicks owner Jim Dolan extended home game invitations to Trump after New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Security was going to be tight, but Sunday’s stabbing at New York’s Penn Station raised fresh concerns. U.S. Secret Service and the NYPD have issued statements on the matter. Penn was back to usual by Sunday night.
For other Game 3 ticketholders, the Knicks are warning fans to bring as little as possible to Game 3 of the NBA Finals and encouraging them to arrive at least two hours before tipoff as part of enhanced security measures.
There also will be no watch party outside MSG Monday night because of the president’s visit. The city has added another watch party site in Bryant Park. Others are being held from Brooklyn to Queens and Long Island.
Trump is a longtime Knicks fan who confirmed last week that he would attend the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999. He has already attended a number of major sporting events in his second term, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup. Trump will be the first sitting president to attend the NBA Finals.
News 4’s Charles Watson reports from Madison Square Garden
