The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are skipping their White House visit, adding to a growing trend of teams passing on the tradition during President Donald Trump’s time in office.
The team confirmed the decision ahead of their scheduled game in Washington, D.C., saying the visit simply didn’t work logistically.
“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,” the Thunder said in a statement.
The explanation points to scheduling, but the move is still drawing attention, given the history surrounding White House visits in recent years.
Championship teams have long been invited to celebrate with the president, but that tradition has become increasingly politicized.
The Thunder now join a list of teams and athletes who have declined or skipped visits during Trump’s presidency.
Similar situations played out in past years across multiple sports.
After the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2017, several players skipped the White House trip, including Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennett.
Tom Brady also missed the visit, citing “personal family matters.”
In 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles had their invitation revoked altogether after it became clear that many players were planning to skip.
More recently, after their 2025 Super Bowl win, the Eagles attended, but a number of players still chose not to participate.
Even outside the NFL, the trend has continued.
While the U.S. men’s hockey team attended the White House following their 2026 Olympic gold medal, the women’s team declined, again pointing to scheduling issues.
Now, the Thunder’s decision adds another example to that pattern.
The timing explanation comes as the team is set to play the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital, which would normally make a visit convenient.
That detail is likely to raise questions about whether scheduling was the only factor.
Still, the organization has not indicated any political motivation behind the decision.
On the court, the Thunder remain one of the NBA’s top teams.
They currently hold the league’s best record at 55-15 and are favored to repeat as champions, as reported by the New York Post.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s MVP and Finals MVP, continues to lead the team at an elite level.
Despite injuries to key players like Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City has maintained its dominance.
But off the court, the White House decision is now part of the conversation.
What was once a routine championship tradition has become a recurring point of controversy.
And once again, a title-winning team is opting out.
Whether it’s truly about timing or something more, the result is the same: another champion, another missed visit.
