New York Knicks owner James Dolan has confirmed that his team will accept an invitation to visit President Donald Trump at the White House, making them the first NBA champions to do so during his presidency. Dolan announced the decision during a radio appearance on WFAN New York on Wednesday, stating that the team had received and accepted the invitation, though details are yet to be finalised.
Dolan, who described Trump as a friend of 30 years, said he had invited the president to attend Game 3 of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden. The visit is likely to prove controversial among Knicks fans after Trump was greeted with boos and jeers when he appeared on the arena's jumbotron during that game. The reception reflected the liberal leanings of NBA fans and the fact that New York City overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
It remains unclear how many players will attend. Forward Josh Hart previously called Trump a 'dumbass' online after Joe Biden's 2020 victory, while centre Mitchell Robinson, a registered Republican, described Trump's MSG visit as 'cool, I guess'. The Oklahoma City Thunder, last season's champions, did not visit the White House due to a 'timing issue'.
White House visits for title-winning teams have become politically charged during Trump's two terms. The Boston Celtics visited under Biden in 2024, while the Golden State Warriors declined after their 2017 title and were not invited after 2018. The 2019 champion Toronto Raptors ruled out a visit before an invitation was offered, and the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers skipped due to pandemic protocols.
