US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he has accepted an invitation from New York Knicks owner Jim Dolan to attend the NBA Finals.
"The answer is yes, [Dolan] has invited me, I'm going," Trump told reporters in the White House when asked if he would attend a Finals game.
The Knicks on Wednesday won Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the San Antonio Spurs 105-95. The first two games of the Finals are contested in the Texas city while games three and four will be at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday and Wednesday respectively.
"It could be Monday," Trump answered when asked which New York game he would attend, adding: "Maybe I'll do both."
New York would also host an eventual Game 6 on June 16.
"I've been a Knick fan for a long time and I'm also a Jim Dolan fan," said Trump, who was born in the New York City borough of Queens. "He's a competitive guy and he's got a team that's amazing."
NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday that Trump would be "welcome" to attend the game. "President Trump is very much a New Yorker," Silver said, according to broadcaster ESPN. "I'm thrilled another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knicks team."
According to ESPN, Silver noted that this would be the first appearance by a sitting president at an NBA Finals game since he took over as commissioner in 2014.
The Knicks, who have won 12 straight games in the post-season, are in the Finals for the first time since 1999. The franchise is looking to win its first championship since 1973.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has attended the Super Bowl and a US Open match.
