NBA champion Thunder to skip White House visit, citing 'timing' issue

The reigning 2025 NBA champions won’t beryllium making the accepted sojourn to the White House owed to a timing issue. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder are owed to play the Washington Wizards connected Saturday evening, but a squad spokesperson said that contempt talks with the White House, the squad volition not beryllium celebrating with the president. 

Indiana Pacers guardant Obi Toppin (1) drives to the handbasket against Oklahoma City Thunder defender Luguentz Dort (5) during the archetypal fractional of Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Indiana, connected June 13, 2025. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

"We person been successful interaction with the White House, and we are appreciative and grateful for the connection we person had, but the timing conscionable didn’t enactment out," the squad said successful a connection obtained by The Associated Press. 

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It was not instantly wide whether a ceremonial invitation had been extended to the team. Fox News Digital has reached retired to the White House for confirmation.

The White House has a long-standing contented of welcoming title teams to observe their achievements. On Friday, President Donald Trump invited the Navy Midshipmen pursuing a historical play that culminated successful winning the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.

President Donald Trump holds up a helmet arsenic helium speaks during the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy presumption with the Navy Midshipmen shot squad successful the East Room of the White House successful Washington, District of Columbia, connected March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

TRUMP SAYS US WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM WILL 'SOON' VISIT WHITE HOUSE AFTER DECLINING SOTU INVITATION

Teams person declined a White House sojourn successful the past. The astir notable lawsuit was successful 2017 erstwhile the Golden State Warriors had their invitation withdrawn by Trump aft Stephen Curry and different players indicated they were not funny successful visiting.

Trump precocious invited the U.S. men’s crystal hockey squad to the White House and the State of the Union aft their golden medal triumph implicit Canada astatine the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The women’s squad was besides invited amid contention regarding a quip the president made during a telephone with the men’s team. 

The women’s squad declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union, citing "previously scheduled world and nonrecreational commitments."

Oklahoma City Thunder guardant Jalen Williams (8) holds the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy arsenic helium celebrates with his squad aft they won the NBA hoops title with a Game 7 triumph against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, successful Oklahoma City.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

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"We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our golden medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and profoundly admit the designation of their bonzer achievement," USA Hockey said successful a statement. "Due to the timing and antecedently scheduled world and nonrecreational commitments pursuing the Games, the athletes are incapable to participate."

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