NBASep 30
Knicks Still Weighing White House Visit After Championship
Mike Brown says the organization has not reached a decision, despite owner James Dolan previously signaling that an invitation would be accepted.
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Decision remains an internal discussion
The New York Knicks have yet to decide whether their championship celebration will include a White House visit, coach Mike Brown said Tuesday following the team's opening practice of the new season. Brown said the matter remains under discussion within the organization and emphasized that the Knicks would act together once a decision is made. A visit would make New York the first NBA champion hosted at the White House during either of President Donald Trump's terms. Owner James Dolan had indicated after the championship that the Knicks would accept an offer. Dolan has a close relationship with Trump, and the pair sat together at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Those ties, however, have not yet produced a final team decision.
A tradition with recent interruptions
White House visits have long been part of the NBA's championship calendar. The Boston Celtics began the tradition in 1963, and President Barack Obama welcomed the winning team each year of his presidency. No NBA champion visited during Trump's first term or since his election in 2024. During the 2018 Finals, Trump said neither contender would receive an invitation after Stephen Curry and LeBron James indicated their teams were not interested in attending. The 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder cited scheduling as the reason for not making the trip last season. Teams often coordinate a White House stop with a road game against the Washington Wizards. The Knicks' scheduled visits to Washington are Dec. 18 and March 16, though no White House plans have been confirmed.
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