𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Kathy Hochul doesn’t believe President Donald Trump is a true fan of the New York Knicks.

The New York governor posed a trivia question to the president on Wednesday after Trump, who has said he follows the team, revealed plans to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden.

“I’d ask him to name the starting lineup of the 1993 championship team and see how he does,” Hochul said.

There was only one problem: The question cast doubt on her own knowledge of the team, as the Knicks didn’t win the NBA championship in 1993.

The last time New York celebrated a basketball championship was actually 1973. That year, Willis Reed won Finals MVP, leading the Knicks to a 4-1 series win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed averaged 16.4 points and 9.2 rebounds in that series.

The 1993 NBA Finals featured the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Phoenix Suns to complete the first of their two three-peats during the Michael Jordan era. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference finals that season. In 1993-94, New York broke through a Jordan-less Eastern Conference to make the finals. However, that group, led by Patrick Ewing and John Starks, fell to the Houston Rockets in seven games.

A post on the New York governor’s press X account offered what might have been a tongue-in-cheek response to Hochul’s gaffe.

“She was baiting Trump into pretending that team won the Finals,” the post read. “A classic 4D chess move.”

She was baiting Trump into pretending that team won the finals.

A classic 4D chess move. https://t.co/yTB4aHjE7C

— Governor Hochul Press Office (@NYGovPress) May 27, 2026

Donald Trump Jr. didn’t see it as such.

“Anyone who knows my father knows he probably knows more about Sports than just about any human being not in the business,” Trump Jr. posted in response to Hochul.

Anyone who knows my father knows he probably knows more about Sports than just about any human being not in the business. Kathy’s failed soundbite ain’t gonna land well… just like her policies. https://t.co/VFQlLW2Rsx

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 27, 2026

On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that he had originally planned to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals at Madison Square Garden, but that plan was scuttled after the Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, swept the Cavs in four games. Instead, he says he’ll attend an finals game, saying he has received an invitation from several Knicks power brokers, including James Dolan, the Knicks governor and CEO of Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp.

“I think I’ll be going to one of the games,” Trump said.

If he does, Trump would become the first sitting president to attend an NBA championship game. Last year, he became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl as well.

While Madison Square Garden said it wasn’t aware of any plans for a presidential visit, an MSG spokesperson told The Athletic that an appearance by Trump would be welcome.

“We don’t know if President Trump is coming to the Finals, but the president of the United States, no matter who is in office, is always welcome at all our venues,” the statement read.

The Knicks are set to host Games 3 and 4 of the finals against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs. Game 3 is scheduled for June 8, while Game 4 would be on June 10, giving both Hochul and Trump ample time to study up on Knicks history.