Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals is going viral for more reasons than one. For starters, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he’ll be going to Madison Square Garden to see the New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
On top of this, prices for Game 3 tickets have been soaring above Super Bowl levels. When asked to comment on these ticket prices, Trump pointed out that NBA fans have a far cheaper alternative for their viewing experience.
“They can watch it on television. It’s sort of semi-free to watch it on television, but that’s the way life goes.”
Trump added that the Knicks’ emergence as a playoff powerhouse has led to the astronomical prices.
“If the team wasn’t a big success, you could go for it easily…That’s the way life is.”
At the time that Trump was making these comments aboard Air Force One, the cheapest ticket for Game 3 cost around $8,000. The get-in price has since surpassed $9,000, with the most expensive seats going for $109,263.
Around the time that he announced his intention to watch Game 3 live, Trump (who hails from Queens) stated that he was a Knicks fan. This claim has been backed by both NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Back in Game 1, the Knicks stole homecourt advantage in the Finals by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 105-95. By the time Trump pulls up to Madison Square Garden, Jalen Brunson and his crew could be in prime position to put the series away.
Game 1 of Knicks-Spurs Series Averages Nearly 17 Million Viewers
Hours before Game 2, ESPN announced that the series opener between the Knicks and Spurs averaged 16.9 million viewers. According to the network, this was up 90% compared to Game 1 of the Thunder-Pacers series last year.
In addition, the reported peak of viewership for Game 1 was 19.63 million.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
