The New York Knicks will become the first NBA champions to visit the White House during Donald Trump's presidency, marking a turning point in a tradition that fractured during his first term as teams balked at the invitation.
Team owner James Dolan confirmed the acceptance Wednesday in an interview with WFAN sports radio, saying the Knicks had received and accepted an invitation. A White House official told NBC News the administration was coordinating with the team on scheduling the visit for the near future.
Dolan emphasized his longstanding relationship with Trump, noting he had known the president for three decades. He recalled inviting Trump to Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, where the president watched from Dolan's box alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The president attended only one Finals game, which the Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Trump was booed by the crowd. After the Knicks' championship clinch, Trump posted on Truth Social celebrating the victory and praising players Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson, calling the playoff run "Maybe the greatest in the history of basketball."
Championship teams have largely avoided White House visits for years, creating an unusual gap in the tradition. The Golden State Warriors declined to visit in 2017 after star player Stephen Curry expressed hesitation. Trump responded by withdrawing the invitation on social media, writing that visiting the White House "is considered a great honor" and declaring his invitation rescinded. The Warriors' repeat championship in 2018 also did not result in a White House visit.
The Toronto Raptors skipped the ceremony after winning in 2019. When the Los Angeles Lakers won in 2020, the visit never materialized due to COVID-19 delays, and Trump indicated he would not have invited star player LeBron James after James had backed Curry's position.
During Joe Biden's presidency, the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics all visited the White House in 2021, 2023 and 2024 respectively. Last year, when Trump took office for his second term, the Oklahoma City Thunder said they would not visit because of timing constraints.
The Knicks visit signals a return to the custom and represents a dramatic reversal from the politically charged battles that defined championship celebrations during Trump's first term.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The Knicks finally ending this White House boycott streak feels less about basketball tradition and more about ownership and politics aligning on the same floor."
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