New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson stated that the team has not yet discussed a potential visit to the White House, casting doubt on an announcement made by team owner James Dolan. Dolan had previously stated that the championship-winning team had accepted an invitation.
Brunson told Variety in a recent interview that "That’s something that we actually haven’t discussed as a team." He added, "And so obviously, people are making assumptions and saying everything, but together we haven’t discussed it yet. And so we’ll cross our bridge when we get to it."
The Knicks recently secured their first NBA championship in 53 years, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. President Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, which marked the Knicks' only loss in the series. Trump has previously criticized the NBA for being "highly political" stances and commentary from players.
This potential visit would mark the first time an NBA team has visited the White House during Trump's terms. While Dolan expressed pride in bringing the team to the White House, Brunson's comments suggest internal discussions have not yet taken place. The Knicks organization has previously stated a neutral stance on political matters, issuing a statement during a past dispute involving the team's logo and political campaigns that "The Knicks remain neutral on political matters."