New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson and team owner James Dolan may have to get their stories straight when it comes to their potential trip to the White House.
Shortly after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to secure their first championship in 53 years, Dolan said his team accepted an invitation to meet with President Donald Trump. He made this remark during an appearance on WFAN 101.9 FM.
“We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted,” Dolan said. “We still have to figure out the details, 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."
Brunson, however, said the Knicks didn't accept an invitation just yet.
“We haven’t discussed it,” Brunson said. “But as a team, we’ll discuss it and we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
During a recent interview with Variety, the Finals MVP doubled down on that stance. He said the Knicks haven't made a final decision on visiting Trump at the White House.
"That’s something that we actually haven’t discussed as a team," Brunson told Variety. "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."
© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Knicks have been urged to visit the White House.
Before Brunson spoke to Variety about a potential visit to the White House, former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said the Knicks should take a trip to the nation's capital.
“When does Jim Dolan tell his team that we’re going down to visit my good friend Donald Trump in the White House? That’s what I can’t wait for. And hopefully they all go. Hopefully, they go just like they’re doing everything that they’re doing here. I would love to see them be honored at the White House, given this is the 250th birthday of our great nation, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the Knicks standing there with a huge Knicks fan who happens to be the president of the United States,” Esiason said on WFAN.
“You go out of respect to the office…I would think that everybody can get over the political nature of all of this. Doing the right thing by the team, which this mayor happens to be doing, I’m all in support of. I have no problem with the New York Knicks going to a socialist mayor and saying, ‘We’re the champions, here are the keys,’ and the mayor basking in the glow of that championship.”
Only time will tell if the Knicks meet up with Trump.
