Knicks Fans Blame Trump for Game 3 Loss
Before Game 4 of the NBA Finals, a group of New York Knicks fans gathered outside Madison Square Garden, passionately discussing who or what caused the Knicks to lose Game 3. For many, the answer was none other than President Donald Trump.
During their 115-111 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, which happened with Trump in attendance, fans felt a surge in security and a clear decline in the Knicks’ performance. This, according to some supporters, created a negative atmosphere that, perhaps, led to their loss.
Hours ahead of Game 4, Variety spoke to several fans who believed some sort of dark, supernatural influence was at play courtesy of the President. “We’re destroying Madison!” declared a fan named Daisy, who was decked out in a vibrant dress matching Knicks colors and wearing an array of jewelry.
“There was a really bad energy in this space on Monday. MAGA Mussolini was here – we have to get rid of that energy!” she said emphatically.
Others echoed Daisy’s sentiments, suggesting that Trump had summoned “bad voodoo” and “weird energy,” even tying him to a supposed sudden fight that broke out, which, according to some, was unprecedented.
A fan named Avery went so far as to assert, more or less, that Trump is a “curse to any team he supports,” pointing to his previous affiliations with the Knicks, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New York Mets. Avery held a sign reading, “Forget you, Trump. Let’s go, Knicks.”
After a gripping Game 4, where the Knicks staged a remarkable comeback, many started to feel like maybe the so-called curse had lifted. But Knicks owner James Dolan made it clear on a New York radio station that the heightened security concerns were not the fault of the President or the Secret Service.
Dolan explained that the New York Police Department (NYPD) was responsible for the stricter protocols, stating, “The Secret Service did not ask for this; it was actually the commissioner’s office.” He claimed the decision was made well in advance and used Trump’s visit as a pretext.
The controversy didn’t end there. A planned watch party for Game 4 fell through, leading Dolan to vent frustration, hoping that the city officials would reconsider their initial decision. He lamented, “It’s almost 5 o’clock and the screens aren’t going up.”
New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani swiftly countered, indicating that Dolan had chosen to cancel the event, despite the city having approved a permit for 999 fans.
Ultimately, the Knicks pulled off an exciting win without Trump attending Game 4, but fans were still left contemplating the bizarre connection they made between basketball, leadership, and the outcomes of their beloved team’s games.
