As Confetti Settles, Knicks Must Decide Whether To Accept Trump’s White House Invitation

Next Stop: The White House. Or is it?After enjoying the spoils of winning the franchise’s first NBA Championship in 53 years, the Knicks were feted to a parade for the ages through lower Manhattan on Thursday, culminating with players being presented to the keys of the city and serenaded by Alicia Keys, singing Empire State of Mind.Now, as the confetti is swept from Broadway and New York returns to normal, a huge question looms: will the celebration continue with a visit to the White House?Team owner James Dolan announced this week that he accepted an invitation from President Trump for the team to cap its championship festivities with a visit to Washington. Whether the players ultimately make the trip remains uncertain.While Mr. Trump has hosted several championship teams during his two terms in office — including the 2018 Boston Red Sox, the 2018 New England Patriots, the 2025 Florida Panthers, and the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers — no NBA champion has posed for the traditional White House photo during his presidency.The Golden State Warriors coached by left-leaning Steve Kerr and Kamala Harris supporter Steph Curry didn’t visit the White House when they won titles in 2017 and 2018. The Toronto Raptors chose to celebrate with Canada’s Prime Minister in 2019, and the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James couldn’t visit in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Even the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first NBA champions during Mr. Trump’s second term, didn’t go to the White House last year, saying, “the timing just didn’t work out.”The Knicks situation is a bit different. Messrs. Dolan and Trump have maintained a relationship for three decades. Mr. Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden as Mr. Dolan’s guest, with the two sitting together throughout the game.Mr. Dolan returned the favor by being in attendance at UFC Freedom 250, the mixed martial arts event held on the South Lawn last Sunday, one day after the Knicks clinched the title in San Antonio.Mr. Dolan said he was proud to receive the White House invite, adding that the details still needed to be formalized. “I’ve known the president for 30 years and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House,” he said.Whether every player shares that enthusiasm remains to be seen. New York native and reserve guard Jose Alvarado said he’ll do what the team wants to do. Beyond that, few players have commented publicly.What was once a routine stop for championship teams has become considerably more complicated in today’s political climate. A White House visit is viewed through a political lens. For some athletes, attending is part of a longstanding sports tradition. For others, it can be interpreted as an endorsement of a sitting president and his policies.That reality creates the potential for scrutiny from fans and social media regardless of which choice the Knicks make.For the moment, politics may be taking a back seat to exhaustion.Since defeating San Antonio in five games to win the franchise’s first championship since 1973, the Knicks have been the toast of the town. Players have made appearances on late-night television programs, morning news programs, at World Cup matches and even the Puerto Rican Day parade. Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium, while social media is flooded with videos of restaurants and businesses competing to offer players complimentary meals and other perks.Yet, none of the celebrations compared to Thursday’s parade, an explosion of joy after five decades of frustration.Thousands of boisterous fans began lining the streets at 4 a.m. for the 10 a.m. start. By sunrise, orange-and-blue jerseys filled the sidewalks along the famed Canyon of Heroes, creating one of the largest championship celebrations the city has witnessed.With confetti raining from office buildings overhead, players frequently abandoned their buses and floats to mingle with supporters. Mr. Hart shared a cigar, while Mr. Brunson walked the streets allowing fans to touch the Larry O’Brien trophy .Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns danced with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani atop a Department of Transportation truck, while Mikal Bridges brought along his dog, Sonny, to share the experience.The trucks and buses weren’t restricted to players and staff. Ben Stiller. Spike Lee, Timothee Chalamet, and Tracy Morgan were among the celebrities that took part in the parade that ended at City Hall. There were dancers, drummers, and even a couple that got married. There were also a few mishaps along the way. Tyler Kolek, who played 62 games for the Knicks, was briefly mistaken for a fan and jostled by police before being recognized.Some spectators, who arrived hours before the parade began, expressed disappointment that the huge crowds prevented them from seeing much of the procession. And eagle-eyed fans quickly noticed a No. 33 banner bearing the name “Jones” hanging on a City Hall wall for Dillon Jones, despite the number having long been retired in honor of Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.None of that dampened the mood.“This is our city. This is our team,” Mr. Mamdani said on the steps of City Hall where he presented each player with a key to the city. “For 53 years, we watched; for 53 years, we waited. Now we’ve won.”Mr. Brunson took the microphone and addressed those who thought he was too small and not good enough to lead the Knicks to a championship. “There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions, but when you prove them wrong, you don’t have say (anything) to them. They don’t deserve it.”Head coach Mike Brown, who guided the Knicks to the championship in his first season at the helm, identified the key to the team’s success. “We all held each other accountable,” he told a sea of orange and blue. “That’s the standard for the 2025-2026 New York Knicks. And that’s why we’re champions.”Ms. Keys closed the festivities in grand style by singing “Empire State of Mind, as all of New York sang along.The celebration may not be over yet. Whether the next stop is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue remains one of the few unanswered questions left from a memorable championship season.

As Confetti Settles, Knicks Must Decide Whether To Accept Trump’s White House Invitation

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