Trump booed at historic NBA Finals appearance as Spurs beat Knicks in Game 3

Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game on Monday night as the New York Knicks hosted the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

Trump arrived before tip-off alongside several cabinet members and his granddaughter Kai Trump.

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He watched Game 3 of the championship series from a heavily secured suite surrounded by protective glass.

He was briefly shown on the arena’s giant screen during the national anthem, drawing boos from parts of the crowd.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver defended Trump’s attendance, describing him as a “genuine Knicks fan” during an interview with ESPN.

“What makes sports so special, especially when there's so much that divides people, is that it's something we have in common. We should look for those things we have in common and build off that,” Silver said.

Security around Madison Square Garden was significantly increased ahead of Trump’s visit.

Fans were advised to arrive two hours early, while players, staff and media underwent airport-style screening before entering the arena.

Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said the additional security measures made things “inconvenient on everybody else”.

Celebrities including Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Tina Fey and former Yankees star Derek Jeter also attended the game alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.