After finally climbing the NBA mountain and bringing a championship back to New York, the Knicks are apparently heading somewhere almost as famous as Madison Square Garden: the White House.
Knicks owner James Dolan confirmed on Wednesday that the team plans to accept an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit Washington, D.C. Dolan revealed the news during an appearance on WFAN New York.
The problem is he didn’t ask any of the players.
We know Mitchell Robinson will go, and Jose Alvarado said he would be interested, but that’s it.
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
“As a matter of fact, thank you for asking me that, we just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said during the appearance. “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.”
Now the relationship between the Knicks and the White House is getting even more official.
The previous five NBA champions crowned during a Trump administration each declined to visit the White House, starting in 2017, when the Warriors won their first of two consecutive titles during a Trump term.
The first Golden State championship came with some drama, after Warriors star guard Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr each said they were not interested in visiting the White House.
Trump then infamously rescinded the invitation in a social media post in which he cited Curry by name.
“Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team,” Trump wrote in September 2017. “Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!”
The Warriors declined to visit after their 2018 title, and the Toronto Raptors opted in 2019 not to visit either the White House or Parliament Hill in Ottawa over scheduling conflicts.
The Lakers won in 2020 and also declined, though the COVID-19 pandemic would’ve complicated any potential White House visit.
Three of the following four NBA champions, the Bucks, Warriors and Celtics, each visited the White House, but that was under the Biden presidency.
Regardless of where people stand politically, the visit will likely generate plenty of attention. Cameras will be everywhere, every handshake will be analyzed and every photo will become a headline.
Welcome to 2026!
