Trump to Become First Sitting U.S. President to Attend NBA Finals

(Central News Agency, Washington, comprehensive foreign reports) U.S. President Donald Trump said today that he has accepted an invitation from New York Knicks owner James Dolan and plans to attend the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden next week. According to the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game. Asked at the White House if he would attend, Trump told reporters, "The answer is yes. He invited me, and I'm going. It could be Monday... maybe I'll go to both games." The Knicks will host Game 3 of the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs on the evening of June 8 (morning of June 9 in Taiwan) and Game 4 on the evening of June 10 (morning of June 11 in Taiwan). Trump's presence is expected to significantly increase security at the Midtown Manhattan venue and its surroundings. The Knicks are in the Finals for the first time since 1999, last winning the championship in 1973. They won Game 1 in San Antonio yesterday, extending their playoff winning streak to 12 games. This streak has sparked fervent support in New York, with Finals ticket prices reaching staggering levels. Trump said, "I didn't watch the middle of the game because I was talking to generals all night, but I saw the end of the game. They played very strong, really amazing." NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told media at a community event in San Antonio today that he is "glad" Trump wants to be part of it. According to The Athletic, Silver said, "President Trump is a quintessential New Yorker, and I'm glad another New Yorker wants to partake in the excitement and joy that the Knicks are bringing." Silver said Trump was a "big Knicks fan" before entering politics, "I've watched many Knicks games with him in the past," and noted that Trump appeared in an NBA 'I Love this Game' promotional advertisement. The ad aired during the 2004-2005 season, featuring several celebrities, with Trump delivering his famous line from the reality show 'The Apprentice': "You're fired!"