The New York Knicks are drawing a hard line against the misuse of their iconic brand by issuing a cease-and-desist letter to socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. This decisive action underscores that the Knicks unequivocally reject any association with Mamdani—no endorsements, no affiliations.
In a bold and glaring display during the Knicks’ season opener, Mamdani’s campaign aired an advertisement that shamelessly altered the beloved Knicks logo, replacing “Knicks” with “Zohran.” Such blatant manipulation raises serious concerns about deception and potential voter misguidance.
The cease-and-desist letter, obtained by this publication, clearly asserts that Mamdani’s antics are likely to mislead the public into believing there is a connection between the campaign and the Knicks. The team is not mincing words; they are demanding the immediate removal of all Knicks logos and intellectual property from Mamdani’s campaign materials.
A Knicks spokesperson confirmed the team’s stance: “The NY Knicks have sent NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a cease-and-desist letter for using the NY Knicks logo to promote his candidacy. The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”
Despite the backlash, Mamdani appears unphased, promoting the misleading advertisement on social media with the defiant slogan, “This is our year. This is our time.” But make no mistake—this is a clear violation, and the Knicks will not stand idly by as their brand is exploited for political gain.
