The New York Knicks have accepted an invitation to visit the White House in celebration of their first NBA championship in over five decades, team owner James Dolan announced Wednesday. This visit would mark the first time an NBA team has attended a White House event during President Donald Trump’s tenure.
Dolan, speaking on the sports radio station WFAN, expressed pride in bringing the team to Washington and noted his long-standing personal relationship with the president. “I’ve known him for 30 years,” Dolan said, emphasizing his support for Trump and describing him as a dedicated Knicks fan.
A White House official confirmed that discussions with the Knicks’ organization are underway, although no date has been scheduled for the visit. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the planning conversations.
President Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden last week, sharing a suite with Dolan. The president faced boos from the crowd when his image appeared on the arena’s video board. That game ended as the Knicks’ sole loss in the five-game series, which concluded with New York defeating the San Antonio Spurs to capture the championship.
Championship visits to the White House have been a longstanding tradition across professional and amateur sports, but this practice became less frequent and more politicized during Trump’s presidency. The NBA, in particular, saw notable resistance from players and coaches who publicly declined invitations. Many of those individuals, supporting Democratic causes, criticized Trump’s policies and rhetoric, especially on social justice issues.
During Trump’s first term, tensions arose between the president and prominent NBA figures. Stephen Curry, a key player for the Golden State Warriors, announced he would not visit the White House, leading Trump to retract the invitation via Twitter. NBA commissioner Adam Silver also publicly expressed disapproval of some of Trump’s remarks, calling comments about immigration “discouraging.” Silver has donated to political candidates across party lines, supporting Democrats including Kamala Harris as well as Republicans such as Nikki Haley.
Dolan’s connection to Trump extends beyond the basketball court. He married at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and has defended the president in recent interviews. In March, Dolan criticized New York City officials, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, accusing them of being insincere Knicks fans.
Trump has a long history with the Knicks, frequently attending games at Madison Square Garden during the 1990s when the team developed a reputation for physical play and reached the finals twice. He has publicly praised the current Knicks roster, which features star players Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, following their strong playoff performance.
Silver, speaking at Game 3 of the finals from the Garden court, described Trump’s attendance as a unifying moment and highlighted the president’s genuine support for the franchise. “He was a fixture at Madison Square Garden,” Silver said. “He’s a genuine Knicks fan.”