President Donald Trump praised the New York Knicks for their first championship in more than 50 years. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks win first NBA Championship since 1973
Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship with a 4-1 series victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
President Donald Trump praised the New York Knicks for winning their first NBA championship in more than 50 years.
After the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, ending a cinematic 4-1 series, President Trump congratulated owner Jim Dolan and the newly crowned NBA champions.
“It’s been a great year, but even more so were the incredible playoff wins we all witnessed, especially the last four games, which may be the best in basketball history,” President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, June 14.
The last time New York won the NBA Finals was in 1973, three years after their first championship in 1970. Trump, who was known as a New York businessman before taking the White House, is a longtime fan of the city’s popular NBA franchise.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump congratulated point guard Jalen Brunson and other Knicks players for scoring a game-high 45 points.
“Tonight, another superstar was born,” President Trump said. “His name is Jalen Brunson. We also have Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and the great Patriot Mitchell Robinson! Let’s make America great again!”
Trump attended Game 3 of the Finals in New York, the Knicks’ only loss of the series, as a guest of franchise owner James Dolan.
Trump himself made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game in person. The president’s appearance was met with boos from those in the stands during the national anthem, but Trump later told reporters, “I think it was mostly cheers. It was loud, it was enthusiastic.”
President Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, has focused his second term on sports. He is scheduled to host a UFC bout on the South Lawn of the White House on his birthday, titled “UFC Freedom 250,” which has been highly anticipated by conservatives and panned by liberal critics. Trump also said the United States and Iran could reach a deal on his birthday to end a four-month war that has caused gasoline prices to soar across the United States.
Contributed by Kristie Ackert and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY
