The Oklahoma City Thunder will not make the traditional visit to the White House during their stay in Washington this weekend, despite being the reigning NBA champions. The organization confirmed that, although there were talks with U.S. authorities, the meeting could not be arranged. The team is scheduled to play the Washington Wizards on Saturday at Capital One Arena, which usually serves as an opportunity to carry out this type of protocol. However, on this occasion, the official reception will not take place. “We have been in contact with the White House and appreciate the communication we have maintained, but the circumstances simply weren't right,” the Thunder said in a statement released this Friday. The franchise explained that the decision was due to a scheduling conflict. Talks between both parties aimed to organize a celebration for the 2025 title, but the available time did not allow for finalizing the necessary details. A tradition with recent history of absences. The visit of the NBA champions to the White House is part of a custom that dates back to 1963, when the Boston Celtics made this institutional gesture. Over the years, teams have taken advantage of their trips to the capital to uphold this tradition. However, it doesn't always happen. In recent seasons, several franchises have chosen not to attend or haven't received an invitation in certain circumstances. The Golden State Warriors, for example, didn't attend after winning the championship in 2017 and weren't invited in 2018 either. In 2019, the Toronto Raptors also didn't make the visit, although Canadian teams don't always participate in these types of events. Other champions have maintained the practice. The Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, the Warriors in 2022, and the Boston Celtics in 2024 all kept to the tradition. In contrast, the Denver Nuggets, champions in 2023, also didn't attend, citing scheduling conflicts with the White House.The Thunder have already had a presence at that venue in recent years. In November 2022, some of their players participated in a visit during Joe Biden's administration, which included a tour and a partial screening of a documentary about their extracurricular program in Tulsa. In another sporting context, last month the gold medal-winning U.S. men's ice hockey team attended the State of the Union address at the invitation of President Donald Trump. They also participated in an event in the Oval Office and shared a luncheon at the White House. Meanwhile, the women's ice hockey team, also Olympic champions, decided not to attend the same event, citing "the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments."