Knicks will become first NBA team to visit Trump White House, owner James Dolan says
The New York Knicks plan to become the first NBA team to visit President Donald Trump at the White House, according to team owner James Dolan.
Dolan, a personal friend of Trump, revealed the White House had extended an invitation and the Knicks have accepted during an appearance on "The Craig Carton Show" on Wednesday:
"We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details, etc., but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend, I've known him for 30 years and I'm very proud to bring the team to the White House."
During the NBA Finals, Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Finals game with his appearance at Game 3, the Knicks' only loss in a five-game win over the San Antonio Spurs. He was greeted at Madison Square Garden with loud boos from Knicks fans, who had to arrive early to go through TSA-style security for New York's first Finals game this century.
Trump spent the game seated next to Dolan behind bulletproof glass in the owner's suite. Dolan has since insisted Trump did not fall asleep during the game despite a viral video appearing to show the contrary.
It remains unclear how much of the Knicks organization will actually go to the White House. No NBA team has visited Trump during either of his two terms, as many of the league's big names have spoken out against the president or have otherwise declined to attend.
The most notable example remains the flare-up between Trump and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who said he didn't want to go. Trump pulled back the Warriors' invitation soon after that statement.
Here's what every other NBA champion has done since Trump first became president, with teams who won during Joe Biden's term italicized:
2016-17 Golden State Warriors: Famously no
2017-18 Golden State Warriors: No
2018-19 Toronto Raptors: No
2019-20 Los Angeles Lakers: Waited for Joe Biden, nixed due to COVID-19
2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks: Yes
2021-22 Golden State Warriors: Yes
2022-23 Denver Nuggets: No
2023-24 Boston Celtics: Yes
2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder: No
It remains to be seen if any Knicks players will follow Curry's lead, though bench guard Jose Alvarado said earlier Wednesday he would go if his teammates decide to attend
