Stephen A. Smith Says James Dolan Is Upset With Knicks Players for Refusing Donald Trump’s White House Visit Request

Stephen A. Smith dined with Donald Trump at the White House on October 15, but he says the Knicks roster is in no hurry to follow him there. Owner James Dolan accepted the president's championship invitation months ago, before the players had discussed it.

According to Smith, that has left the team on edge.

"The owner James Dolan has an attitude with players because they don't want to go to the White House," Smith said of what he is hearing about the New York Knicks.

Smith suggested Dolan could hold a grudge over it, even though the Knicks won their first title under his ownership. Smith framed the report as what he is hearing around the team, and neither Dolan nor the Knicks have publicly responded to it.

The tension traces back to June. Dolan told WFAN the team had accepted the White House's invitation and that details still had to be worked out. He added: "I'm very proud to bring the team to the White House." Dolan had also invited Trump to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

The players sounded far less settled. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson said the team hadn't discussed a visit together, adding they would "cross that bridge" when they got to it. The White House press office told Fox News Digital it had "nothing to share" on scheduling.

The stakes extend beyond one photo op. The Knicks would be the first NBA team to visit the White House while Trump is in office, and several teams, including last year's champion Oklahoma City Thunder, have declined in the past.

Smith's report suggested that the decision is not only a scheduling matter. It may reflect a split between an owner who is close to the president and players who have not committed. That split is easier to understand once you look at where Dolan's money has gone.

James Dolan’s Political Spending Adds Context to the Knicks’ White House Standoff

Dolan has recently moved his political giving toward the president's allies. He, his family and his company donated $1.4 million this year to committees supporting Republican Bruce Blakeman, who is running against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.

That marked a shift from years of donating to Hochul. Dolan was also set to host a Blakeman fundraiser at Madison Square Garden, the same day as Smith's dinner.

Dolan is not alone among NBA owners. Journalist Tommy Beer wrote that "NBA owners have poured tens of millions of dollars into Republican campaigns and PACs ahead of the 2026 midterms." Beer noted that Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson has contributed more than $67 million.

He also pointed to seven-figure gifts from Magic owner Dick DeVos, Hawks owner Tony Ressler and Bucks minority owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.

Dolan also has business interests that overlap with the administration. Reports note that his properties are involved in the Trump administration's Penn Station redevelopment, for which he is expected to receive significant compensation.

For now, the full picture is unclear. Smith said that Dolan is upset that the players are balking, and Dolan has publicly said the visit is happening. The players have said only that they have not decided.

Whether the Knicks go to Washington as a full team, a partial one or not at all will show who holds the stronger hand: an owner with deep ties to Trump or a championship roster with its own say.