The reigning NBA Champion Thunder are skipping a visit to the White House after their Finals victory over the Pacers last season.
The Thunder have a game scheduled against the Wizards in Washington, D.C., on Saturday at 5 p.m., making this an ideal time to visit, but in a statement to The Athletic, the team cited a “timing issue” for skipping out.
“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 team said.
The Thunder now join a list of multiple teams and athletes who have snubbed the White House visit during both of Donald Trump’s terms as president.
Many players on the Patriots skipped the 2017 White House visit after winning the Super Bowl, including Devin McCourty, Martellus Bennett, LeGarrette Blount and even Tom Brady, who was said to have had “personal family matters.”
The Eagles were initially invited in 2018, but Trump ultimately revoked the invitation due to players likely skipping the visit, which Torrey Smith said “many” were going to do.
Following their most recent Super Bowl championship in 2025, the Eagles accepted an invitation, but 12 players skipped the visit.
Despite many of the Team USA men’s hockey team attending the White House and the State of the Union address after the 2026 Winter Olympics, their gold-medal-winning counterparts on the women’s side did not, citing scheduling issues.
The Thunder are favored to repeat as NBA Champions despite battling through a number of injuries this season, including significant time off for Jalen Williams, one of the team’s top options, who has just played 26 games.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, last season’s regular season and NBA Finals MVP, is in a good position to replicate the feat as the Thunder, who are 55-15, maintain the league’s best record through 70 games.
