Kenyon Martin believes New York Knicks fans aimed their Madison Square Garden frustration at the wrong person when Donald Trump was booed during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Trump's appearance became one of the loudest off-court stories from the Knicks' 115-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs .
The president was shown inside the arena, and the reaction from the crowd included heavy boos that quickly became a national talking point.
Martin did not argue that fans had no reason to be annoyed by the distraction. His point was that the person who brought Trump into the building mattered more than the guest who accepted the invite.
Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images
NBA Courtside shared Kenyon Martin's take from Gil's Arena after Donald Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
"Let's start there, it was an invitation. He didn't pick up and decide to come to the game, he was invited to the game.
"He could have declined, but he was invited by the man who owns that building and owns that team," Martin said.
He added, "So, this is another James Dolan fault right here. This is not on Trump for showing up this is on the owner for inviting him."
Martin's argument was less about politics and more about accountability. If Knicks fans felt the night became a circus, he believes Dolan created the conditions for it by extending the invitation.
Trump was invited by James Dolan, who owns both the Knicks and Madison Square Garden, and watched Game 3 from a suite as New York tried to protect its Finals lead.
When Trump was shown inside the arena, fans delivered a mixed reaction, but the boos were loud enough to dominate the conversation.
The moment came on a night already carrying extra tension because security delays, road closures, and watch-party changes had frustrated some supporters around the Garden.
That is why Martin's take cuts differently. He is not saying fans had to cheer Trump; he is saying the anger should have traveled upstairs to the owner who made the night possible.
The Knicks still lead the series, but Dolan's invitation made Game 3 about more than basketball. For Martin, that is exactly why the boos belonged somewhere else.
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