President Trump congratulated the New York Knicks on a dramatic Game 5 comeback that ended a 53-year title drought, celebrated Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, and shrugged off loud boos he received at Madison Square Garden earlier in the series.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social to salute the Knicks after they clinched the franchise’s first NBA Championship since 1970, capping a spirited 94-90 win in San Antonio. The Queens native singled out owner Jim Dolan and praised key players by name, leaning into hometown pride. The post arrived days after he attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden and faced a loud, hostile reception from parts of the crowd.
“Congratulations to Jim Dolan and the New York Knicks!!! What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four, Maybe the greatest in the history of basketball.”
The president made sure to mention Jalen Brunson by name and declared the guard’s breakout performance the birth of “a superstar.” He also listed Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson, calling Robinson a “great Patriot.” The tone on Truth Social focused on celebration more than grievance.
The reaction at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 was unmistakable: sustained booing when the jumbotron flashed the president’s image. On the tarmac after that game, Trump pushed back at reporters about what he called the crowd’s reaction. He framed the moment as energetic and more positive than the boos would suggest.
“You mean when they had the camera on me? I thought it was very good, yeah. It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers.”
Photographs showed him sitting courtside with MSG owner James Dolan during the contest, and the public congratulatory post made days later underscored that he wanted to celebrate the team regardless of the arena reception. For many New Yorkers, sports moments still cut across political lines, at least for a night. The president’s message read like hometown pride taking priority.
City politics have been tense in recent weeks, with local leaders publicly clashing over high-profile events and civic responsibilities. Those disputes remained in the background as the city shifted focus to the championship and street celebrations. The Knicks’ victory offered a rare, unifying spectacle amid ongoing political noise.
The clincher itself was a tight, gritty affair. New York rallied from double-digit deficits in multiple wins during the series, and the final game saw them overcome a 16-point hole to secure a 94-90 victory. That resilience defined the playoff run and set the stage for Brunson’s historic night.
Brunson poured in 45 points, including a stretch of 13 straight in the fourth quarter that swung the game. He set a franchise Finals record, eclipsing Willis Reed’s long-standing 38-point mark from 1970, the last time the Knicks won it all. The achievement quickly became the center of the postgame celebration.
“I have no words.”
“I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m in awe. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”
The supporting cast did their part, too: Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart combined for 27 points, with Bridges scoring 14 and Hart 13. On the Spurs’ side, Dylan Harper led the way with 25 points while Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks in the loss. The clash showcased both veteran resolve and rising talent.
Back in New York, the city erupted almost immediately after the final buzzer, with fireworks and fans flooding the streets around Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. The celebrations were electric but not without trouble; police intervened to control crowds, and a police vehicle near MSG was reportedly damaged during the mayhem. Still, the mood across the boroughs was irrepressible.
Celebrities and high-profile figures were sprinkled through the crowd in San Antonio and courtside, from Timothée Chalamet to Sydney Sweeney, with notable Knicks supporters like Ben Stiller and Spike Lee also present. Prince Harry sat next to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and attended with JP Lane, a Warrior Games athlete, drawing additional headlines. The mix of stars and fans highlighted how big the moment had become.
For President Trump, the title gave him a moment to connect with his city and its fans, even after a visibly hostile reception days earlier. He lauded the comeback wins and Brunson’s breakout performance while leaning into shared civic pride rather than the boos. New York will throw its party. The president already threw his.
