NBA titleholders Thunder will not attend White House ceremony due to ‘scheduling’ conflict.

WASHINGTON — The current NBA titleholders, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will not make a stop at the White House during their upcoming road trip to the capital this weekend, according to a team representative on Friday.

The team and the White House had conversations regarding a celebration for the 2025 champions, but “timing” issues hindered the event from taking place.

“We have been in contact with the White House, and we are thankful for the communication we have received, but the timing simply did not align,” the Thunder stated in a release.

A visit to the White House has been a cherished tradition for NBA champions, originating with Boston’s visit in 1963. Teams generally arrange the celebration when a regular-season game brings them to the capital. The Thunder are scheduled to face Washington on Saturday.

In recent years, several teams have turned down invitations, with the Golden State Warriors being a notable example in 2017.

Last month, the gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team attended the State of the Union after receiving an invitation from President Donald Trump. The team also participated in an event in the Oval Office with Trump and had lunch at the White House.

Trump also extended an invitation to the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team for the State of the Union, but the women opted not to attend, citing “the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”