During Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks faced a challenging defeat against the San Antonio Spurs, ending their 13-game postseason winning streak. Playing at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks struggled against a formidable Spurs performance.
Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed discontent over the differing number of free throw attempts allotted to each team. Meanwhile, fans proposed other reasons for the Knicks’ loss. One theory centered around the presence of President Trump, who was attending an NBA Finals game as a sitting president for the first time.
Trump’s appearance was met with a strong reaction from the crowd. Sports journalist Albert Samaha, speaking with NPR’s Morning Edition, remarked that the boos directed at Trump during the national anthem were even louder than those directed at the Spurs themselves.
In contrast, President Trump described the crowd’s response as mostly positive, noting the event’s overall enthusiasm. The contrasting perceptions highlighted the polarized atmosphere in the arena.
NPR’s Michel Martin conducted an interview with Samaha to discuss the significance of Trump’s presence at the game and to look ahead to predictions for Game 4. For those interested in hearing the full conversation, the interview is available via the provided audio link.
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