New York Knicks to Visit White House for NBA Championship Celebration

The New York Knicks will visit the White House to celebrate their NBA championship. An administration official confirmed this to NBC News on Wednesday. Knicks owner James Dolan shared the news in an interview with WFAN sports radio. Dolan stated, “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted.” Although the details are yet to be finalized, the visit is set to happen soon.

The Knicks will be the first NBA champions to visit the White House during President Donald Trump’s terms. This visit breaks a hiatus, as several NBA teams previously chose not to attend. Dolan highlighted his longstanding relationship with Trump, whom he invited to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8. Trump attended the game, sitting in Dolan’s box with notable administration officials like Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Trump praised the Knicks on Truth Social, congratulating Dolan and standout players including Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The message emphasized the team’s significant playoff performance. This visit marks a return to a tradition after past NBA champions, such as the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and the Toronto Raptors in 2019, did not visit the White House. Tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these decisions.

Trump had contentious interactions with some NBA stars. Notably, Stephen Curry’s 2017 comment against visiting Trump’s White House resulted in a revoked invitation. The Warriors chose not to attend the following year. Similarly, in 2020, COVID-19 restrictions delayed the Los Angeles Lakers’ visit. Trump’s previous term also saw disagreements with star player LeBron James.

While teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder did not visit during Trump’s return to office due to “timing” issues, three teams attended during President Joe Biden’s tenure. The Milwaukee Bucks, Warriors, and Boston Celtics each made White House visits in recent years.