The New York Knicks are the first NBA champions to commit to the tradition when Donald Trump was in office.
The New York Knicks are taking their championship celebration to Washington, D.C.
Knicks owner James Dolan revealed Wednesday (June 17) that the organization has accepted an invitation to visit the White House following its historic NBA championship run. The announcement makes the Knicks the first NBA champions to commit to a White House visit during President Donald Trump’s current administration.
Speaking on WFAN New York, Dolan confirmed the invitation had already been accepted.
“As a matter of fact, thank you for asking me that, we just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said. “We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
The news immediately sparked conversation across social media, where sports and politics often collide. While championship visits to the White House have long been considered a traditional honor, the custom has become increasingly controversial in recent years.
Several NBA champions declined White House visits during Trump’s first term in office.
The Golden State Warriors notably passed on visits after their 2017 and 2018 championships following a public dispute involving Stephen Curry and Trump. The Toronto Raptors also skipped a visit after winning the title in 2019. The Los Angeles Lakers also skipped the White House trip following their 2020 championship season.
The Knicks’ acceptance marks a significant shift from that trend.
The decision could also place a spotlight on individual players who may hold political views different from ownership. Knicks forward Josh Hart previously celebrated Trump’s 2020 election defeat on social media, though no current players have publicly commented on the upcoming White House visit.
Dolan has maintained a close relationship with Trump for years and invited the president to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals earlier this month. Trump attended the game alongside Dolan and later praised both the owner and the championship squad.
“Well, I’ve been a Knick fan for a long time, and I’m also a Jim Dolan fan,” Trump said earlier this month. “He’s a nice guy. He spent a long time wanting to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He’s got a team that’s amazing.”
For now, the details of the visit remain unclear, including whether the entire roster will attend.
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