The text messages started flooding in before the confetti even settled on the Madison Square Garden floor. For the first time in 53 years, the New York Knicks are NBA champions — and the congratulations are coming from some of the most powerful people in the country.
Former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton both took to social media to salute the team after their clinching victory. Obama, a well-known basketball fan who served from 2009 to 2017, kept his message tight and celebratory on X.
“Congrats to Coach Brown, Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, OG, and the rest of these incredible NBA Champion @NYKnicks! What a run!” Obama wrote.
Clinton, who held the White House from 1993 to 2001, went deeper with his praise, painting the team as a reflection of the city itself.
“What an incredible season! Basketball fans everywhere will remember the team that embodied New York grit, never quit, and battled to the final buzzer,” Clinton posted on X. “Congratulations to James Dolan, Coach Mike Brown, Captain Jalen Brunson, every member of the New York Knicks organization, and the loyal Knicks faithful who waited 53 years to celebrate this championship!”
Clinton has a direct tie to the Knicks: He attended a game at Madison Square Garden in 2010 when they faced the Los Angeles Lakers, using the platform to promote the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund during halftime. Obama hasn’t been spotted at a Knicks game specifically but has attended NBA All-Star events and a Toronto Raptors Finals game.
Not to be left out, President Donald Trump also chimed in — this time on his own platform, Truth Social. According to Fox News, Trump called the run historic and singled out several players.
“Congratulations to Jim Dolan and the New York Knicks!!! What a year it has been but, even more so, what incredible playoff wins we have all witnessed, especially the last four – Maybe the greatest in the history of basketball,” Trump wrote.
He added: “Also, tonight, a superstar was born. His name is Jalen Brunson, and there are others, including, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and great Patriot, Mitchell Robinson!”
It’s rare — but not unprecedented — to see three presidents from different eras celebrate the same sports championship. The last time something comparable happened was probably the Chicago Bulls’ 1990s runs, though even then, the tributes didn’t come with this kind of bipartisan reach.
The series victory caps off a season that saw the Knicks overcome injuries, brutal scheduling, and a notoriously tough Eastern Conference bracket. Jalen Brunson, who arrived in New York amid heavy skepticism two years ago, emerged as the defining star of the playoffs and secured Finals MVP honors. Coach Mike Brown, who took over a team many analysts had pegged as a second-round exit at best, now has a ring that cements his reputation.
Next up: a parade through New York City scheduled for Thursday, June 18. Given the half-century of frustration, don’t expect the crowds to be small — or quiet.
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