On June 8, 2026, President Trump attended an NBA Finals playoff game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. As the National Anthem played, he found himself standing in the shadows of his box seats, away from the crowd’s boos.
The Knicks, my cherished team, have a remarkable record of 13 consecutive playoff victories. They are currently ahead 2–0 in the series against the Spurs in these finals, a best-of-seven contest. This success offers hope of ending a championship drought that has lasted 53 years.
Basketball has always been considered “the city game,” as Pete Axthelm aptly described in 1970. At long last, the NBA title seems poised to return to New York City, a place with a rich basketball history. It is home to landmarks such as Rucker Park and figures like Earl “The Goat” Manigault. The idea that “heaven is a playground,” as Rick Telander pointed out in 1977, resonates once more as New York anticipates a long-awaited victory.
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