New York Knicks owner James Dolan has confirmed the team will accept an invitation to the White House to meet President Donald Trump. This decision marks a significant moment, as the Knicks will be the first NBA champions to visit the White House during Trump’s presidency, breaking a trend of non-attendance from previous title winners.
Dolan, a long-time ally of Trump, publicly announced the decision during an appearance on WFAN New York. “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan stated 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.”
A break from recent tradition
The tradition of championship teams visiting the White House has become increasingly politicized during Trump’s time in office. Previous NBA champions largely opted out of such visits:
The 2017 Golden State Warriors chose not to visit after their championship, with Trump later stating he had withdrawn their invitation. They were not invited after their 2018 championship either.
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The 2019 champion Toronto Raptors also did not visit while Trump was in office.
Last season’s NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, did not visit the White House, citing a “timing issue.”
The last NBA champions to visit the White House were the Boston Celtics in 2024, during President Joe Biden’s presidency. The 2020 Los Angeles Lakers skipped their visit to Biden’s White House due to pandemic health and safety protocols.
Political divisions among fans and players
The Knicks’ decision is likely to be met with mixed reactions, particularly given the political landscape surrounding the NBA and New York City. Trump was greeted with boos and jeers when he appeared on the jumbotron at Madison Square Garden at the start of Game 3 of the NBA finals.
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New York City itself overwhelmingly backed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, with Harris securing 67.70% of the vote compared to Trump’s 30.45%, as reported by NBC New York and the City Board of Elections.
The political divisions are also evident within the Knicks roster. Forward Josh Hart previously called Trump a “dumbass” on social media after Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory. In contrast, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, a registered Republican, described Trump’s recent visit to MSG as “cool, I guess.”
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