James Dolan plans to reciprocate Donald Trump’s visit to Madison Square Garden.
On Wednesday, the Knicks owner said on WFAN that the White House extended an invitation to the team after it won the franchise’s first NBA championship since 1973—and that it plans to accept.
No NBA champion has visited the White House while Trump has been in office.
“We just received an invitation which we’ve accepted, still have to figure out the details,” Dolan said. “I’ve known the president 30 years, and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Dolan are longtime friends, with Dolan having donated to the president’s campaigns in the past. When Trump attended Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, he became the first sitting president to attend a Finals game. The two sat alongside each other in MSG’s suite 47. Trump is the nation’s 47th president.
Trump’s visit to MSG led to long security delays as fans were screened by both TSA and U.S. Secret Service agents, but it didn’t impact the start of the game.
Knicks guard Jose Alvarado was asked by TMZ Sports on Wednesday about a potential White House visit, and didn’t state his preference to go or not.
“If there’s a chance, I’m going wherever my teammate goes,” Alvarado said.
The past five NBA champions, which includes Trump’s first term, all turned down invitations to the White House. In March, the then-reigning champion Thunder did not visit the White House while playing in the nation’s capital.
“We have been in touch with the White House, and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn’t work out,” the Thunder said in a statement.
The Warriors didn’t visit in 2017, Trump’s first year in office, after Stephen Curry said he didn’t plan to go, leading Trump to “uninvite” Curry on social media. LeBron James weighed in and called the president a “bum” on X.
The Celtics were the last NBA team to visit the White House, celebrating their 2024 championship during Joe Biden’s presidency.
