The 2026 NBA champion New York Knicks accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House, team owner James Dolan announced.

Dolan shared the news late Wednesday, noting that while specific details and a date are still being finalized, the team intends to make the trip to Washington. The visit marks a notable shift in recent professional basketball traditions, as the Knicks will become the first NBA championship team to attend a White House ceremony during the Trump administration.

Over the course of Trump's two terms in office, the previous five NBA championship teams declined their invitations to the nation's capital.

The decision follows a period of visible interaction between the franchise's leadership and the president during the team's postseason run. Dolan, a longtime financial supporter and donor to Trump, hosted the president in his private luxury suite during Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 8.

Trump, a native New Yorker, has frequently vocalized his appreciation for the franchise and its ownership. Earlier in the postseason on June 4, Trump expressed his fandom for the team and praised Dolan's competitive drive. However, the political figure's appearance at the arena drew mixed reactions from the local crowd, as a number of fans booed the president when he was shown on the stadium screens.

On the court, the Knicks secured the Larry O'Brien Trophy after a dominant championship series against the San Antonio Spurs. The team's lone blemish in the Finals came during that same Game 3 matchup, where they fell to the Spurs in a close 115-111 loss before rallying to secure the title.