New York Knicks owner James Dolan don come out to defend President Donald Trump against claims say e fall asleep during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Dolan talk for WFAN’s ‘The Carton Show’ on Wednesday say Trump no nod off at all, even though video wey blow up for social media show am with eyes close.
‘I was with him the whole time. We were talking the whole time. He was very much awake, he was very much engaged,’ Dolan yarn. But the video wey dey circulate, e fit make person doubt whether dem really dey talk through the game.
Dolan continue: ‘That’s the first sitting president of the United States to ever go to an NBA Final. That is a huge honor. And he’s a New Yorker. Whatever you think about him, he’s a Knicks fan.’ E add say ‘I think he’s a great guy. I’ve known him for over 30 years.’
Trump attendance for Madison Square Garden cause plenty wahala. Fans get order to arrive two hours early, no carry bag, and dem face long queues and heavy security. Even players from Knicks and San Antonio Spurs go through TSA-style screening before dem enter arena.
When Trump show for big screen during national anthem, fans boo am well well. But Dolan say e no go attend Game 4, though security measures go still dey for outside the Garden, wey don become matter of dispute between Dolan and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Meanwhile, some people dey talk say Trump dey jinx home teams. The Knicks, wey lead series 2-0 before Game 3, lose 115-111 at home with Trump for luxury suite. Dis na pattern wey don show for other sports: when Trump attend, the home team often lose. For example, during im first term, Washington Nationals lose Game 5 of World Series to Houston Astros 7-1. Also, Washington Commanders host Detroit Lions and lose 44-22.
The White House call the suggestion say Trump dey jinx home teams ‘foolish’ and call am ‘the people’s president.’ Spokesperson Olivia Wales say ‘President Trump is the greatest champion for sports of any president in American history.’
But some Knicks fans dey blame Trump for the loss. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, wey be Knicks fan, yarn before Game 3 say e go be Trump fault if dem no win. After the game, e say ‘What I feared would happen ended up happening. The president disrupted our mojo.’
Trump reply by questioning Smith intelligence: ‘I think he’s a nice guy. But you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that.’
Trump, wey be native of Queens, New York, dey attend Knicks games since before e become politician. But dis time, im return draw long and loud boos. The White House try to spin am, posting photo of Trump with caption ‘King of New York.’ But New York Daily News feature cartoon of rotund Trump with jersey wey say ‘approval rating.’
