The New York Knicks are currently enduring the greatest moment in their modern era after ending a 53-year wait to secure a third NBA Championship.

The team secured the title last Saturday night, taking down the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on the road to clinch a 4-1 NBA Finals triumph.

Celebrations have been taking place non-stop since the Game 5 victory and fans of the franchise will get to witness the stars of the 2026-winning roster when the championship parade is held on Thursday, the 18th of June.

An American tradition that typically follows for a team winning a championship or a triumphant US national team in international competition is to get an invitation from the President to attend the White House. This often sees the winning players greet the sitting President in person and pose for pictures together.

However, this has become more of a conflicting decision for teams to make in the last decade, since the 45th and 47th President, Donald Trump, has been in office due to many players being against his administration’s policies and stances. Trump’s first stint in office was from 2017-2021 while his second and current one started in 2025.

NBA Champions Haven’t Attended White House Under Donald Trump Presidency

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An NBA championship-winning team is yet to visit the White House since Trump’s first election into the Oval Office, with the Golden State Warriors being the first to make their stance clear after NBA Finals victories in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

The Toronto Raptors (2019) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020) also did not visit the White House in the remaining years of Trump’s first stint.

The 2025 NBA champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, did not make the trip to Washington either after being the first champions of Trump’s second spell as President.

Trump made an appearance at the 2026 NBA Finals, sitting in a suite alongside Knicks owner James Dolan for Game 3 of the series at Madison Square Garden.

The 47th President’s decision to attend the game was widely unpopular among the Knicks faithful, as it meant that fans were not permitted to gather for watch parties around the Knicks’ home venue, and fans with tickets had to go through extra rounds of security checks upon entering the third contest.

The President was booed when shown on the jumbotron at the game and some Knicks fans blamed his appearance at the game as the reason why their team was unable to secure a victory on that occasion, as the Spurs pulled the series back to 2-1 following that contest.

New York Knicks Made White House Decision

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However, despite the Knicks fans’ opposition to Trump, it appears that the franchise itself is actually on good terms with the President, as the team is set to visit the White House following their Finals success.

Dolan, a long-time friend of Trump, confirmed the decision during an interview with WFAN New York on Wednesday after being asked whether he was looking forward to a potential celebratory trip to the White House.

The Knicks owner stated: “We did receive an invitation from (the) White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details, but yes, of course, (we’re looking forward to it).

“I invited the President to come down for the game, right? He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years, and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House,” the 71-year-old businessman added.

While Dolan will be pleased to make the White House visit and celebrate his team’s triumph with his close friend, it remains to be seen whether the Knicks players and staff display the same glee when greeting Trump and if they choose to pose for pictures with the current President.

Arsenal are just starting to make moves in the summer transfer window as manager Mikel Arteta assesses his options ahead of the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

After winning the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, the rumour mill was slow to get into gear for the Gunners, but we are just starting to hear a few more noises around players potentially arriving at the Emirates Stadium now.

Christos Tzolis and Manu Kone are the names starting to make headlines in connection with Arsenal, but there is a big-money move that the club may well be working on over the next couple of weeks.

Arsenal are serious about signing Morgan Rogers

GIVEMESPORT understands that the Gunners are “serious contenders” to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa this summer and GMS senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs has said that he would be the dream signing for Arsenal.

Rogers is likely to leave Villa Park this summer, as Villa look to ensure they continue to comply with Financial Fair Play and adhere to the Premier League’s new Squad Cost Rules, coming in for the start of the 2026/27 campaign. There are also UEFA Squad Cost Rules to comply with given they are in the Champions League next season.

A number of clubs will be linked with signing Rogers and with Arsenal in the market for a left-sided forward, he is high on their list of transfer priorities.

Jacobs said: “Offers in excess of £80million will be engaged with. Interested clubs feel around £80million whereas Villa sources I speak to feel like they get in a room at £80million, but maybe £90million and even £100million might be the number because we’re in an inflated market.”

Rogers wants Arsenal move

Arsenal may have the advantage when it comes to signing the 23-year-old, with Gunners insider HandofArsenal saying on social media that Rogers has outlined his preference to sign for Arsenal over the likes of Chelsea this summer.

One former Arsenal star does not think it would be the right move, however.

Speaking in a blog for Betway, Gunners legend David Seaman warned Arteta against spending £100million on the England international.

He said: “As a player, he’s fantastic, but in terms of fitting into the squad, is he in the same mould as [Eberechi] Eze? He is, really. So what do you do with that?

“It’s Eze’s first season at the club, you’ve got to give him a chance to really settle in, and it looks like he’s settled in already. It always takes a while to get used to team-mates and play at the Arsenal level where you’re contending for big trophies.

“I would feel like we need more of a playmaker, and Rogers is more of a No. 10, an Eze-type player. It’s tough, but that’s why I’m not the manager!”

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has given the green light for the club’s next signing after Victor Munoz and a deal is accelerating, according to TEAMtalk.

Liverpool chiefs have been working on bringing in new signings after appointing Iraola as Arne Slot’s replacement at the start of the month, and they agreed a deal ‘out of nowhere’ on Wednesday night when Fabrizio Romano announced that they had hijacked Newcastle United’s move to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna.

The Reds have activated the player’s €40m release clause and he is set to move to Anfield on a six-year contract after completing a medical in the United States, where he is currently representing Spain at the 2026 World Cup.

The left-sided winger will provide competition for Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha on that side, with Hugo Ekitike set to be sidelined until 2027 through injury.

Liverpool still need to find a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah on the opposite flank too, with the Egyptian leaving Merseyside after nine years this summer.

The Reds are looking at other positions too, including midfield, where Curtis Jones is expected to leave and doubts remain over the future of Alexis Mac Allister.

Iraola ‘Says Yes’ to Yan Diomande Deal

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According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are continuing their push to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, and Iraola is a driving force behind the move.

The report says that the Spaniard is now actively pushing club chiefs to complete a deal for the Ivory Coast sensation.

After a stunning breakthrough season at Leipzig, where he scored 13 goals and registered a further 10 assists, the 19-year-old announced himself on the world stage in sensational fashion as he was named as man of the match in his nation’s opening World Cup group game.

Diomande displayed his pace, trickery and dynamism, and the latter in particular is a trait that Iraola really admires in him.

Liverpool have been in constructive dialogue with Leipzig over a summer move, as talks continue to accelerate.

Liverpool Face Diomande Asking Price Hurdle

via Reuters

While GIVEMESPORT sources are growing in confidence that Diomande wants to join Liverpool with progress made on the player side of negotiations, the major hurdle remaining is Leipzig’s asking price.

TEAMtalk report that the Bundesliga outfit have set a minimum asking price of €130m (£112m) for the ‘sensational’ winger, which means that the Reds would need to pay more than £100m for a player for the third time in the space of 12 months.

The other complication is the fact that Paris Saint-Germain continue to show strong interest in the teenage wonderkid, as they consider adding to their own attacking options after defending their Champions League title.

PSG aren’t the only European giants in the race to sign Diomande though, with Real Madrid showing interest in recent weeks and being tipped to come calling for the player soon.

Liverpool’s fast deal to sign Munoz shows they aren’t messing about though, so don’t be surprised if they win the race to bring Diomande to Anfield.