New York Knicks owner James Dolan has accepted an invitation from the White House to visit the presidential residence following the team’s first NBA championship in over five decades.
“The White House just sent us an invitation, and we’ve accepted it,” Dolan stated. “We still need to work out the logistics—like the date, how many people will go, and which players attend—but yes, we’re definitely doing this.”
Dolan emphasized his long-standing friendship with President Donald Trump, noting that he personally invited the president to attend a Knicks game. “He’s a friend—I’ve known him for 30 years—and I’m proud to bring the team to the White House.”
This marks the first time an NBA champion has visited the White House during a Trump administration. Earlier this month, President Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game, watching the Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden before the team clinched its championship series 4-1.
While details of the Knicks’ visit remain pending, the White House confirmed it is actively preparing for the trip. In contrast, Seattle’s Super Bowl LX victory has not yet triggered a White House invitation. A federal official recently noted, “We don’t have anything to share at this time—check back later.”
Dolan previously defended Trump in 2018 after marrying at Mar-a-Lago and described the president as “a Knicks fan” during a recent interview with WFAN radio. The White House invitation follows years of documented ties between Trump and the Knicks, including his frequent attendance at Madison Square Garden games during the team’s 1990s playoff runs.
