The New York Knicks are the first NBA championship team to uphold this tradition during the Donald Trump administration.
New York Knicks to hold championship celebration in Washington, D.C.
Knicks owner James Dolan revealed on Wednesday (June 17) that the Knicks have accepted an invitation to visit the White House following their historic NBA championship win. The news makes the Knicks the first NBA championship team to commit to a White House visit during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking on WFAN New York, Dolan confirmed the invitation had been accepted.
“Actually, thank you for asking me that question, we just received an invitation from the White House and we accepted,” Dolan said. “We still have to figure out the details and stuff, but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down and watch the game. He’s a friend of mine. I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m proud to bring the team to the White House.”
The news immediately sparked discussion on social media, where sports and politics often collide. While a champion’s visit to the White House has long been considered a traditional honor, the custom has become increasingly controversial in recent years.
During Trump’s first term, several NBA championship players declined to visit the White House.
It’s worth noting that the Golden State Warriors stopped visiting after winning championships in 2017 and 2018 after Stephen Curry and Trump had public feuds. The Toronto Raptors also did not go to the White House after winning the championship in 2019. The Los Angeles Lakers also did not travel to the White House following their 2020 championship season.
The Knicks’ acceptance marks a significant shift in that trend.
The decision may also shine a spotlight on individual players who hold political views that differ from those of ownership. Knicks forward Josh Hart has previously celebrated Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election on social media, but no players have commented publicly on the upcoming trip to the White House.
Dolan has maintained a close relationship with Trump over the years and invited the president to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals earlier this month. Trump watched the game with Dolan and later praised both the owner and the championship team.
“Well, I’ve been a Knicks fan for a long time and I’m a Jim Dolan fan,” Trump said earlier this month. “He’s a good guy. He spends a long time trying to win, and he’s a competitive guy. He has an amazing team.”
Details of the visit remain unclear, including whether the entire roster will participate.
