It’s rare that Victor Wembanyama isn’t the biggest star in the arena at any NBA match, but he was outdone by the President of the United States last night
Donald Trump was in the building to watch Wembanyama score 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks in game three of the NBA Finals.
Trump was booed during the national anthem. Loudly.
Depending on who you ask, that was either because of the president’s politics, his wrestling the limelight away from the Knicks, or simply because his security detail sanitised Madison Square Garden’s otherwise raucous atmosphere.
Trump has courted sport perhaps more than any other president in history.
He owns stock in the UFC’s parent company; he is the first sitting commander in chief to attend the Super Bowl; he has personally waded into the schism in golf, mediating between the PGA Tour and the now seemingly doomed LIV Golf tour.
You also don’t need to be told that, as much as Trump likes making friends in sport, he loves making enemies just about everywhere else, as well as strong-arming those who oppose him.
One of his most powerful nemeses is Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan & Chase, the Western world’s biggest bank.
The pair’s feud began in anger in January, when Trump sued JPMorgan to the tune of $5bn for allegedly closing his bank accounts for political reasons in the aftermath of the Capitol riots, five years earlier.
Dimon is personally named in the suit, which Trump’s lawyers say caused him “considerable financial reputational harm.” JPMorgan meanwhile said the action has “no merit,” while Dimon himself claims it “makes no sense.””
Dimon has also taken several swipes at Trump’s handling of tariffs, foreign policy and Federal Reserve independence.
And which company’s logo appeared on the court, beside the trophy, above the doors, in the suites and fan parks for last night’s game? It was JPMorgan & Chase’s.
Chase have sponsored Madison Square Garden since 2010 and are its biggest commercial partner. The bank is said to pay upwards of $300m for the privilege.
The Knicks’ lead has been cut to a single game ahead of game four on Wednesday.
