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06/03 20:24 CDT Amid talk of Trump attending NBA Finals game in New York,
Silver says sports can be unifying
Amid talk of Trump attending NBA Finals game in New York, Silver says sports
can be unifying
By TIM REYNOLDS
AP Basketball Writer
SAN ANTONIO (AP) --- There has been no announcement that President Donald Trump
plans to attend an NBA Finals game at New York's Madison Square Garden next
week, though Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at Trump's intentions Wednesday
when he said sports remain something that unifies even in divided times.
Silver, without saying Trump's name, responded to a question about "unique
people" coming to finals games in New York and how the league prepares for such
events. The New York Post, citing anonymous sources, reported Wednesday that
Garden officials have "performed security walkthroughs" in anticipation of a
Trump visit.
Game 3 of the series is Monday in New York, Trump's hometown. The series opened
Wednesday in San Antonio, and Game 2 is there on Friday.
"I think what's really so special about sports in our society --- and it's a
little bit of a clich, but our increasingly divided society, and that goes to
people who will be attending the first home game at Madison Square Garden ---
it truly brings people together," Silver said. "It creates a sense of
connectivity among people. It creates a sense of belonging, and I feel that
every day."
The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Wednesday
evening.
Trump is no stranger to major sporting events. He told reporters last week that
Knicks owner James Dolan invited him to the NBA Finals and that he would have
gone to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals --- but the Knicks needed only
four games to win that series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Trump called the Knicks' return to the finals for the first time since 1999
"great to see."
Trump has routinely dropped in on prominent sporting events during his time in
politics. He's taken in the College Football Playoff championship and caught a
prime-time NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets just
days before the 2024 election.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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