FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump listens to the national anthem as he attends Game 3 of the NBA Finals, alongside his granddaughter Kai Trump and New York Knicks owner James Dolan, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., June 8, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a firm reminder to members of the Knicks that they do not have to visit President Donald Trump at the White House if they do not want to.
“That is their personal prerogative, because, you know, in their contract, they have autonomy over their bodies,” James told reporters at City Hall during the Knicks’ championship parade on Thursday (h/t Matthew Chayes, Newsday). “And therefore, if they decide not to go, I would respect that.”
Her comments come a day after team owner James Dolan accepted an invitation to visit Pennsylvania Ave., which would make the Knicks the first NBA champion to visit the White House during either of President Trump’s terms in office.
Dolan is a noted friend of Trump, whom he hosted for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 8, making him the first sitting president ever to attend an NBA Finals game. He spent the game sitting next to Dolan in the owner’s suite behind bulletproof glass.
“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan told WFAN. “We still have to figure out the details, etc., 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.”
Trump has had multiple dust-ups with NBA players and teams throughout his presidency, most notably rescinding the Golden State Warriors’ invitation in 2017 after superstar guard Stephen Curry said he did not want to attend.
The Warriors declined the next year when they won a second-straight title, and the Toronto Raptors followed suit in 2019. The Los Angeles Lakers waited until Joe Biden was in office before making their visit after winning the 2020 COVID championship.
Three of the next four winners made stops at the Biden-run White House, but the 2025-winning Oklahoma City Thunder declined Trump’s invitation when he returned to office.
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