Trump Warned to Stay Away from NBA Game

President Donald Trump’s planned trip to Madison Square Garden is already causing major headaches in New York City before he even arrives.

Trump confirmed this week that he plans to attend Monday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs, after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan.

The announcement immediately raised alarms, not just because of the political baggage Trump brings wherever he goes, but because his presence is expected to trigger a massive security lockdown around one of the busiest arenas in America.

Trump said Thursday that he has “been a fan for a long time,” and even suggested he may return for Game 4.

But plenty of people are not celebrating.

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith made it clear on his SiriusXM radio show that he believes Trump should stay away from the game, warning that the president’s visit could turn an already intense NBA Finals atmosphere into complete chaos.

“I don’t want him there,” Smith said.

Smith insisted his objection was not simply political. Instead, he said Trump’s attendance would create a disruptive scene at Madison Square Garden during one of the biggest nights in Knicks history.

“It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that’s going to be existing at Madison Square Garden,” Smith said.

The longtime ESPN personality predicted that Monday night could be unlike anything he has seen in more than 30 years of covering sports.

“You don’t understand what Monday is going to be like in New York City,” Smith warned. “There is nothing short of madness that is coming the way of everybody come Monday.”

That “madness” is already taking shape.

The Knicks posted a notice on X warning fans that a strict no-bag policy will be in effect for Game 3. The team also said fans should prepare for “enhanced security measures” and “TSA-style screening procedures” before entering the arena.

Fans were urged to arrive at least two hours before tip-off. The team also warned there will be no storage available for anyone who brings prohibited items to the venue.

The added restrictions come as officials prepare for a sweeping security operation around Madison Square Garden. According to CBS News, authorities are planning a hard security perimeter around the arena, with surrounding streets closed to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Only ticket holders will be allowed inside the secured area.

The operation is expected to involve hundreds of Secret Service agents and thousands of New York Police Department officers, creating a scene more like a presidential motorcade lockdown than a basketball game.

For Knicks fans who already paid jaw-dropping prices to witness the team’s first NBA Finals run in decades, the extra chaos is unlikely to be welcome.

Ticket prices have soared to stunning levels. According to Gametime, the cheapest seats for Game 3 were listed above $9,000, while some premium tickets were going for more than $74,000.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended the heightened security, saying fans should understand that extra precautions are necessary when the president attends a game.

“There should be extra security for the president of the United States to be at a game,” Silver said.

Still, Trump’s decision to attend is fueling criticism, especially as the president recently missed his eldest child’s wedding over Memorial Day weekend because of the Iran War. For some critics, the optics of skipping a family wedding but making time for courtside basketball are raising eyebrows.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.

The Knicks currently lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 and are just two wins away from winning their first NBA championship since 1973.

But instead of the focus staying entirely on the team’s historic run, Trump’s planned appearance has turned Game 3 into something much bigger, and much more complicated, than basketball.

For fans, the message is clear: get there early, leave your bags at home, and prepare for a night of basketball wrapped inside a presidential security spectacle.