The New York Knicks will become the first NBA champions to visit Donald Trump at the White House, according to team owner James Dolan. Speaking on WFAN New York on Wednesday, Dolan said: "We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted. 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."
The visit may not sit well with many Knicks fans. Trump was greeted with boos and jeers when he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden during Game 3. The hostile reception was expected given that NBA fans lean liberal and New York City overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
It remains unclear how many players will attend. Forward Josh Hart celebrated Joe Biden’s 2020 victory by calling Trump a "dumbass" on social media. Center Mitchell Robinson, a registered Republican, described Trump's visit to MSG as "cool, I guess." Last season’s champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, did not visit the White House due to a "timing issue."
Title-winning teams in major US sports traditionally receive invitations from the president. Such visits have become politically charged during Trump’s two terms. The last NBA champions to visit the White House were the Boston Celtics in 2024 under Biden. The Golden State Warriors skipped Trump’s White House in 2017 and were not invited in 2018, though they visited under Obama and Biden. The 2019 Toronto Raptors and 2020 Los Angeles Lakers also skipped visits due to political or health reasons.
