The New York Knicks are set to become the first NBA champions to visit President Donald Trump at the White House during his second term, according to team owner James Dolan.
Dolan Confirms Invitation Acceptance
“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said during a radio appearance on WFAN New York on Wednesday. “We still have to figure out the details … but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for [last week’s Game 3 of the NBA finals]. He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
Fanbase Divided Over Visit
The planned visit may not sit well with many Knicks fans. Trump received a hostile reception when he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA finals, with boos and jeers echoing through the arena. The reaction was predictable given that NBA fans tend to lean liberal, and New York City overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Player Attendance Uncertain
It remains unclear how many Knicks players will attend the White House event. Forward Josh Hart previously celebrated Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory by calling Trump a “dumbass” on social media. Conversely, center Mitchell Robinson, a registered Republican, described Trump’s visit to MSG as “cool, I guess.”
Historical Context of White House Visits
Title-winning teams in major US sports traditionally receive presidential invitations to visit the White House. However, such visits have become politically charged during Trump’s tenure. The last NBA champions to visit the White House were the Boston Celtics in 2024 under President Joe Biden. The Oklahoma City Thunder, last season’s champions, skipped the visit due to a “timing issue.”
The Golden State Warriors declined to visit Trump after their 2017 title, and Trump later claimed he withdrew their invitation. They were not invited after their 2018 championship. The Warriors had visited under Barack Obama and went to the White House under Biden after their 2022 title. The 2019 champion Toronto Raptors ruled out a visit before an invitation was offered, while the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers skipped Biden’s White House due to COVID-19 protocols.
