The Oklahoma City Thunder will become the latest reigning sports champion to pass on visiting the White House.
Oklahoma City revealed in a statement this week that they will not be visiting President Donald Trump at the White House. A Thunder spokesperson said that conversations were had with the White House about a visit to celebrate OKC’s 2025 NBA championship but that a “timing” issue will ultimately prevent the team from making the trip.
“We have been in touch with the White House, and we are appreciative and grateful for the communication we have had, but the timing just didn’t work out,” said the spokesperson, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.
The Thunder are currently in Washington, D.C. for their one trip of the year to face the Washington Wizards on Saturday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. While it is tradition for reigning sports champions to visit the White House when they are in the area, Oklahoma City will be turning down their opportunity to do so this year.
During his second term of office, President Trump has already hosted a number of defending champion teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Florida Panthers, and Inter Miami CF. But Trump still has yet to welcome an NBA team during his second term as the Boston Celtics were the last NBA champions to visit the White House in late 2024 (when Joe Biden was still the president).
In addition to the Thunder, the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team recently declined an invite to President Trump’s State of the Union address and accompanying White House visit (though the men’s team did visit the White House last month). On top of that, multiple high-profile sports champions skipped out on trips to the White House during Trump’s first term in office.
