New York Knicks to be first NBA team to visit Donald Trump, James Dolan says
The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship by taking down the San Antonio Spurs in five games.
Olivia Bennett 
It has been a landmark week for the New York Knicks, who are currently celebrating their first NBA championship since 1973 after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. Now, the franchise is set to make history again.
A Presidential Visit
According to Knicks owner James Dolan, the team will become the first NBA champions to visit the White House during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Dolan shared the news during a radio appearance with New York’s Craig Carton, confirming that the franchise has accepted an invitation from the White House. "We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details, etc," Dolan said. "But yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend, I’ve known him for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
Connecting the Dots
The connection between the organization and the President was on display during the NBA Finals, when Trump attended Game 3 at Dolan's invitation. The Knicks lost that contest, which snapped a 13-game winning streak for the team.
This upcoming visit stands out because of the notably frosty relationship between the NBA and the Trump administration. Throughout his first term, friction frequently occurred between the White House and star players like LeBron James and Steph Curry, who were vocal about civil rights and racial injustice. During those years, while many college and other professional teams visited the White House, NBA organizations generally opted out.
As 205focus.com continues to track this story, it remains unclear exactly when the Knicks will make the trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. or which members of the team roster will participate.
