Knicks Break NBA Tradition as First Champions to Visit Trump’s White House [WATCH]

The New York Knicks will become the first NBA championship team to visit the White House during President Donald Trump’s current term after accepting an invitation following their NBA Finals victory, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought on Saturday night by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The championship marked the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973 and capped a season that returned the team to the top of the league after decades without a championship.

Team owner James Dolan confirmed this week that the organization has accepted an invitation from the White House, and plans are underway for the visit.

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Speaking during an interview on WFAN, Dolan said, “We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted.”

While details regarding the timing and logistics are still being worked out, Dolan made clear that the team intends to participate in the traditional championship visit.

“We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, 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.”

James Dolan confirms the Knicks have been invited to the White House and have accepted:@craigcartonlive @CMacWFAN pic.twitter.com/kemKQZJhf9

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) June 17, 2026

The announcement comes just days after President Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. The appearance marked the first time a sitting president had attended an NBA Finals game.

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As Trump arrived at the arena, chants of “USA! USA! USA!” echoed throughout Madison Square Garden.

The upcoming White House visit will mark a notable moment in the relationship between championship NBA teams and the White House.

During both of Trump’s presidential terms, visits by NBA champions have often become a source of controversy or have not occurred at all.

In 2017, Trump withdrew a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors after star guard Stephen Curry and other members of the team expressed reluctance about attending.

The following years brought similar situations. In 2018 and 2019, the Warriors and the Toronto Raptors either declined invitations or were not invited to visit the White House.

In 2020, the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship during the COVID-19 pandemic and did not make a White House visit.

The tradition resumed under former president Joe Biden. The Milwaukee Bucks visited the White House in 2021 after winning the NBA title. The Golden State Warriors followed with a White House visit in 2022.

The Denver Nuggets, who won the NBA championship in 2023, declined a White House visit, citing scheduling issues. In 2024, the Boston Celtics visited  Biden following their championship season.

After Trump returned to office in 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder chose not to make a White House visit after winning the NBA title, also citing a timing issue.

That left a gap in the traditional championship celebration until the Knicks accepted the invitation this week.

The upcoming visit will make New York the first NBA championship team to appear at the Trump White House during his current administration.

It also restores a long-standing sports tradition that has often become intertwined with political disagreements in recent years.

For the Knicks, the White House trip will serve as another milestone in a championship season that ended one of the longest title droughts in franchise history and delivered the organization’s first NBA championship in more than five decades.

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