Knicks to Visit White House After NBA Championship Win

The New York Knicks will visit the White House to celebrate their NBA championship, as confirmed by an administration official to NBC News. This event marks the first time an NBA champion team will visit during President Donald Trump’s terms in office. Knicks owner James Dolan shared the news during a WFAN sports radio interview, stating, “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted.” Details of the visit are still being finalized.

A White House official mentioned that communication with the Knicks has been established and they look forward to hosting the team soon. Dolan expressed his relationship with Trump, highlighting that he invited the president to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Trump attended the game, where he was met with boos—the Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in that match.

During Game 3, Trump was seated in Dolan’s box alongside administration officials such as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin. On Truth Social, Trump celebrated the Knicks’ victory, particularly praising players Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks visiting the White House is notable due to previous NBA championship teams declining the invitation during Trump’s previous term. For example, the Golden State Warriors, after their 2017 win, opted not to attend, following Stephen Curry’s statements and Trump’s subsequent social media response. Similarly, the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers did not visit after championship wins due to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

Trump also declined to invite certain individuals, such as LeBron James, due to past criticisms toward his administration. Meanwhile, during President Joe Biden’s term, teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics have visited the White House.