Here’s what may be happening and conservatives aren’t happy.
President Donald Trump extended a traditional White House invitation to the newly crowned NBA champion New York Knicks, but questions remain about whether every player plans to attend.
Although Knicks owner James Dolan quickly accepted the invitation on behalf of the organization, All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson says the team has not yet decided whether players will make the trip to Washington.
The uncertainty comes after the Knicks captured their first NBA championship in more than five decades by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
White House Visit Still Not Final
Following the championship celebration, Dolan—who has maintained a longtime friendship with President Trump—confirmed that the Knicks had accepted the White House invitation.
If the visit ultimately happens, the Knicks would become the first NBA championship team to visit the White House during either of Trump’s presidential terms.
However, Brunson indicated the players have not reached a final decision.
Speaking with Intelligencer, the Knicks star said the team has not yet discussed the invitation internally.
“We haven’t discussed it,” Brunson explained. “As a team, we’ll discuss it and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
His comments suggest that while ownership has accepted the invitation, the players still intend to decide together whether they will attend.
Past Trump Criticism Resurfaces
The uncertainty has also renewed attention on previous political comments made by some members of the Knicks roster.
Forward Josh Hart has openly criticized President Trump on social media in recent years. In past posts, Hart referred to Trump with an insult and also celebrated Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Those remarks have led some observers to wonder whether politics could influence the team’s final decision regarding the White House visit.
At this point, neither Hart nor any other player has publicly announced whether they plan to attend.
A Rare NBA White House Visit Under Trump
Professional championship teams have traditionally visited the White House after winning a title, regardless of which political party controls the presidency.
During Trump’s first administration, however, many NBA teams either declined invitations or were never formally scheduled to visit, making a potential Knicks appearance especially notable.
If the team ultimately travels to Washington, it would mark the first NBA champion to celebrate a title at the White House during Trump’s time in office.
Fans Await the Final Decision
For now, the invitation has been accepted by the Knicks organization, but the players have not made their final choice.
Whether the entire roster appears alongside President Trump—or whether some players decide to skip the event—will likely remain a major talking point as the championship celebration continues.
With politics increasingly intersecting with professional sports, the Knicks’ decision is expected to draw national attention from both basketball fans and political observers alike.