Victor Wembanyama is no stranger to outsized attention, but Game 3 of the NBA Finals takes it to a level that transcends basketball. With United States President Donald Trump scheduled to attend Madison Square Garden, the spotlight on the 22-year-old Spurs star takes on a whole new level.

While speaking with reporters before the game, whether or not Trump's attendance would be a distraction was put to him.

Wembanyama kept his answer grounded. "Not really. I think it could be, but isolating myself is something I've practiced over the years, and I think I'm good at it, so it's not a problem. This is similar to something media-wise, like the Olympics."

There is genuine weight to the comparison. Under intense national and international scrutiny, Wembanyama averaged 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game while leading France to a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His confidence here has a solid basis because of his experience in that setting.

It is anticipated that Trump, who was invited by Knicks owner James Dolan, will support the home team.

During a Thursday media appearance, Trump offered his assessment of the Spurs star. "Wemby's a great player. He's going to be a great player, and he is already a great player. I said, 'How do you guard this guy? He's 7-foot-5 and has a great shot.'"

Despite the Spurs' 0-2 deficit, Wembanyama has been one of the NBA Finals' most memorable players. He is the first player since Tim Duncan in 2003 to average 30 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game through the first four games of a Conference Finals series, and he will continue to do so into the championship finals.

As Wembanyama tries to block out the noise inside MSG, the arena itself is already buzzing with a feverish pitch long before tipoff.

Madison Square Garden Buzzing Ahead of Game 3

New York is about to go through something it hasn't gone through since 1999. The Knicks are up 2-0 on the San Antonio Spurs, and the city’s acting like it’s a coronation for Game 3 in Madison Square Garden.

The full story is revealed by the ticket market. As of now, courtside seats were selling for more than $75,000, while upper-deck seats on StubHub, SeatGeek, and VividSeats were fetching more than $6,000. If you want a seat for the sweep-clincher, that’s going to run you $10,000 and up.

There won't be anything like the atmosphere in the arena in recent memory. Both Zohran Mamdani and Donald Trump are anticipated to attend; Trump's presence is so important that the outdoor watch party outside the Garden has been completely cancelled.

Additionally, New York has a strong advantage in history. In the Finals, no NBA team has ever lost a series after leading 2-0 on the road. Every fan of the Knicks is aware of that statistic and is clinging to it.

Comment down below on whether the Knicks close it out at home.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta