Smith Says Dolan Frustrated Over Knicks White House Visit

Stephen A. Smith said he was hearing that New York Knicks owner James Dolan was frustrated with players over their reported reluctance to visit the White House after the team’s NBA championship. The claim has not been confirmed by Dolan or the players, and the Knicks have not announced a final decision about a visit. Smith’s account, made on ESPN’s First Take, characterized Dolan as having an attitude with players because they did not want to go to the White House. The reports carrying the claim all trace it to Smith’s remarks, rather than separate confirmation from people involved. The available accounts do not establish that every player opposes a visit or that Dolan has directly confronted the roster. The status of the visit has remained under discussion. On September 29, coach Mike Brown said the organization was discussing the matter internally and would make the decision collectively. In June, Dolan said the Knicks had accepted an invitation from President Donald Trump. Jalen Brunson said around that time that the players had not yet discussed the visit and would address it as a team. Those statements describe different stages of the discussion: Dolan’s reported...