The New York Knicks brought Cardi B to center court for the halftime show of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, marking the first time a Finals game has been played at Madison Square Garden since 1999.
The Knicks entered the game up 2-0 in the series after taking the first two games on the road in San Antonio. The return to MSG for the Finals was a major moment for the franchise and for New York basketball fans.
According to Billboard, media members and team personnel spotted the MSG crew testing out graphics and lighting for the halftime show well before tip-off. An online ticketing marketplace called TickPick posted a photo showing the jumbotron inside the arena, which read, "Halftime Entertainment Cardi B," with a photo of the Grammy-winning rapper.
The choice of performer fit a pattern the Knicks have established during this postseason run. Fat Joe, Jadakiss, and Fabolous have all performed at MSG during the team's playoff games. Cardi, who is from the Bronx, has been a visible presence at Knicks games during the 2025 and 2026 playoff runs. She and Stefon Diggs went public with their relationship at a Knicks game during the 2025 playoffs against the Boston Celtics.
The appearance came during a busy stretch for Cardi on the performance front. She wrapped her first headlining North American tour earlier this year. The Little Miss Drama Tour grossed over $70 million, according to Billboard Box Score. The tour came in support of her sophomore album, Am I the Drama?, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 last September with 200,000 total album units earned.
President Donald Trump was also expected to be in attendance for Game 3. Cardi has been publicly critical of Trump throughout his time in office. Billboard noted it had reached out to Cardi B's representatives for confirmation of the performance ahead of publication.
