Knicks will be the first NBA team to go to Trump’s White House.

Knicks to Visit White House After NBA Championship

President Donald Trump made an appearance at Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play, with excitement surrounding the upcoming NBA Finals. Now, the champions are gearing up to give back.

Knicks owner James Dolan confirmed on Wednesday that the team plans to visit the White House to accept congratulations from the president. This visit will mark the first time an NBA champion has gone to the White House during Trump’s presidency.

When asked about the White House invitation, Dolan mentioned, “I just received an invitation from the White House, and I accepted it.” He added, “We still need to finalize the details, but naturally, we invited the president to the game. He’s a friend. We’ve known each other for three decades, and I’m proud to take the team to the White House.”

There were rumors that the Knicks might decline the invitation, but White House officials clarified earlier that the claims were incorrect. “This is fake news,” an official stated. “The White House congratulates the Knicks on their victory and is eager to discuss a visit soon.”

The Thunder, who won the 2025 NBA Finals, decided not to visit Trump during their trip to Washington, D.C., in March 2026 due to scheduling conflicts.

Trump, a native of New York and a Knicks supporter, attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals, becoming the first sitting president to do so. He watched the game alongside his granddaughters, and his face appeared on the video board during the national anthem.

After the Knicks clinched their first NBA championship in 53 years by winning Game 5 in San Antonio, President Trump shared his admiration on social media. He congratulated Jim Dolan and the team, saying, “The great playoff wins, especially the last four games, are probably the best in the history of basketball.”