Spike Lee is making his position clear on the Knicks’ White House situation: he does not want the team making the trip.
During a Variety interview, the Knicks’ most visible superfan was asked about the “current Knicks’ imbroglio,” which centered on owner James Dolan and the team’s reluctance to visit the White House. Lee didn’t dance around it.
Interviewer: “I wanted to ask you about the current Knicks’ imbroglio.”
Spike Lee: “Not going to the White House.”
Interviewer: “Yeah. Apparently, the team owner, James Dolan, who we know is a Trump pal, is trying to force them to visit the White House, but the team doesn’t want to.”
Lee: “He can’t force them! It’s been years since the last NBA team has gone.
They’re not going. I hope they don’t go!
I hope they don’t go.”
Dolan, who is friends with Donald Trump, has already accepted the invitation, but the players reportedly are not on board. Lee’s comments came as the issue continues to hang over the defending champion Knicks.
The White House has not been a regular stop for NBA champions in recent years, though teams did make visits during Joe Biden’s presidency. The 2021 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2022 Golden State Warriors and the 2024 Boston Celtics all went. The 2023 Denver Nuggets did not, citing scheduling issues, while the 2020 Los Angeles Lakers were not invited because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Trump’s relationship with NBA teams has been rocky before. In 2017, he rescinded the Warriors’ invitation after Stephen Curry said he did not want to attend.
The following year, Trump said neither the Warriors nor the Cleveland Cavaliers were invited to the White House while they were meeting in the NBA Finals. Golden State won the title and did not go.
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors also skipped the visit after winning the championship, leaving NBA teams 0-3 in Trump’s first term.
Trump began his second term in January 2025, and the Oklahoma City Thunder later won the title but skipped a White House visit in March 2026 because of a timing issue.
The Knicks’ situation became public shortly after they ended a 53-year title drought by beating the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the NBA Finals. Dolan said on WFAN New York that the team had accepted the invitation.
“As a matter of fact, thank you for asking me that, we did just receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said during an appearance on WFAN New York. “We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, 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 attended Game 3 of the Finals and was booed by the crowd. Lee, who endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, said he hopes the players are not forced into the visit. The Knicks are also off to a 3-4 start to the 2026-27 NBA season.
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