Letitia James aside, James Dolan said the New York Knicks accepted a White House invitation on Wednesday to celebrate their 2026 NBA championship. Dolan said the team has not settled the visit’s details yet, even as the White House said it expects to host the Knicks at a date to be determined in the near future.
“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said on WFAN radio. “We still have to figure out the details.”
James Dolan and Donald Trump
Dolan tied the invitation to a personal relationship with Donald Trump, saying, “He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years. And I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.” Dolan also said, “Look, I invited the president to come down for the game.”
The White House told The Athletic that it had been in touch with the Knicks and looked forward to hosting the team at a date to be determined in the near future. That would put the Knicks on a different path from prior NBA champions who skipped White House visits during Trump’s presidency.
Golden State Warriors precedent
The comparison is the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry said before the 2017-18 season that he would not be interested in attending a White House ceremony to honor the Warriors’ 2017 title, and Donald Trump withdrew the invitation over social media after Curry’s remarks. LeBron James then posted support for Curry on September 23, 2017.
The Knicks would become the first NBA championship team to visit Trump during either of his terms if the visit happens. Dolan has been on the other side of the same relationship before, saying he allowed Trump to use Madison Square Garden for a campaign rally before the 2024 presidential election, and that Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals after Dolan invited him.
New York Knicks and White House
For Knicks fans, the practical next step is simple: the invitation is in hand, but the visit is not yet locked to a date. The only firm marker on the calendar is the near-future planning now sitting with the White House and the team, which still have to settle the details.
