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Donald Trump loudly booed at NBA Finals after ruining Knicks' big night

Donald Trump didn't receive the warmest welcome during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, with boos raining down from the Madison Square Garden stands as the president was shown on the screen

[Donald Trump was as he was shown on the Jumbotron at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals]

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Donald Trump was as he was shown on the Jumbotron at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals(Image: Damian Burchardt)

NEW YORK President Donald Trump was ruthlessly booed as he attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.

Trump decided to show up at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks' first home NBA Finals clash at home in 27 years, as they hosted the San Antonio Spurs while 2-0 up in the series. The president confirmed his plans last week, revealing he had been invited to the game by Knicks owner James Dolan.

Trump's attendance affected the occasion in a major way, with fans subjected to TSA-like security checks conducted by Secret Service agents on the way to the stands because of the president's expected presence. A large security wall was also erected around the Garden, in addition to the vehicular and pedestrian traffic closure for a 10-block area around MSG coming into effect at 4 p.m. ET around four-and-a-half hours before the tip-off.

What's more, the Knicks faithful couldn't organize a watch party outside of the arena.

Many public figures called on Trump to abandon his plans to attend the game and slammed the president for "ruining" what's perhaps New York City's biggest sporting event in nearly three decades.

And NBA fans let their frustration out as Trump was shown on the Jumbotron, with loud boos raining down from the MSG stands while the president saluted during the national anthem.

A few hours before, Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox admitted that the president's NBA Finals trip made it "inconvenient" for everyone involved.

"I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient on everybody else," Fox said. "We've got more, obviously, more security. We've got to send stuff early. I think our buses are a little earlier, so that's that.

"Other than that, when you come here and you play against this team, regardless of if they're good or when they're not, it's going to be a building that comes ready to support the team."

Fox said that the players were also subjected to extra security checks. "Yeah, we're like, the less stuff you can bring, the better," Fox said.

"Obviously, we're getting screened like it's TSA. It's a little inconvenient for the people that's got to play, but that's what it is."

[US President Donald Trump attends Game Three of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 8, 202]

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Trump was booed as he saluted during the national anthem performance

Trump has become the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.

Earlier in the series, the president lauded New York's outstanding playoff run, while noting he's been a long-time Knicks fan.

"Well, I've been a Knicks fan for a long time, and I'm also a Jim Dolan fan," Trump said last week.

"He's a nice guy, okay? He's been a long time wanting to win, and he's a competitive guy, and he's got a team that's amazing."

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