President Donald Trump voiced his support for the New York Knicks and team owner James Dolan during an appearance on 77 WABC Radio.
“Well, I am. I get along with Jim Dolan, I think he’s a really good guy,” Trump said during the segment. “Boy, some of these players have turned out to be great players. Philadelphia is a tough team — their center [Joel] Embiid is a big guy — and you thought those games would be good, but they were winning by 35 points. I really like Jim Dolan a lot. I’m really happy for him and the team.”
The clip, posted by 77 WABC Radio, identified the remarks as part of Trump’s on-air appearance, where he discussed the Knicks’ playoff run and his relationship with Dolan.
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Knicks Sweep 76ers Behind Historic 3-Point Shooting
Trump’s comments come as the Knicks have surged into the Eastern Conference finals following a dominant second-round sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers.
New York sealed the series with a 144-114 victory, tying an NBA postseason record with 25 made 3-pointers in Game 4.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 22 points, while Deuce McBride added 25 points and seven 3-pointers in a breakout performance. Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns each contributed 17 points in a balanced offensive attack.
The Knicks wasted no time asserting control, knocking down 11 3-pointers in the opening quarter — tying another NBA playoff record — before building an 81-57 halftime lead.
“It’s just us being very locked in to the moment,” Towns said.
New York’s 19.4-point average margin of victory through two rounds is the largest in the modern playoff era (since 1984), underscoring the team’s dominance.
First-year head coach Mike Brown credited the team’s focus and energy.
“Our guys tried to take it to another level with their focus on the details and their energy and effort level,” Brown said. “That’s a lot of the reason why we’re playing pretty good basketball.”
New York Fans Take Over Philadelphia in Statement Sweep
The series-clinching game also highlighted the Knicks’ growing momentum off the court.
New York fans packed the arena in Philadelphia, waving “Always Knicks” towels and celebrating the sweep as if it were a home game.
“It absolutely sucks, if I am being honest,” 76ers star Tyrese Maxey said. “It just sucks. That’s really all I can say about it, man.”
Despite 24 points from Joel Embiid and 17 from Maxey, the 76ers once again fell short of the conference finals, extending a drought that dates back to 2001.
The Knicks’ sweep marked their first best-of-seven series sweep since 1999 and pushed their playoff winning streak to seven games.
Trump’s Relationship With James Dolan
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks during a public appearance. Trump recently expressed support for the New York Knicks and praised team owner James Dolan during an appearance on TalkRadio 77 WABC.
Trump’s praise of Dolan also reflects a longstanding relationship between the two.
According to New York Magazine, Dolan has been a financial supporter of Trump, including a $300,000 donation to a pro-Trump political action committee in 2016 and a $125,000 contribution to a Trump fundraising committee in 2017.
That 2017 donation came during a politically charged moment in sports, when Trump publicly criticized the Golden State Warriors over a White House visit following their championship.
While there is no direct connection between those past political ties and Trump’s recent Knicks comments, the relationship adds context to his public support of Dolan and the franchise during its playoff run.
Knicks Eye Deeper Run as National Spotlight Grows
The Knicks have now reached the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight season and will face the winner of the Cleveland-Detroit series.
With a historically dominant scoring margin and growing national attention, New York has re-emerged as one of the NBA’s most compelling postseason stories — drawing interest not only from fans and analysts but also from figures beyond the basketball world, including the President of the United States.
Trump Reacts to Knicks Sweep, Drops Strong Message on James Dolan