The New York Knicks have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after his campaign used a modified version of the team’s logo in a political ad. The advertisement, aired during the Knicks’ season opener in 2025, replaced the word “Knicks” with “Zohran” in the iconic orange and blue emblem.
A Knicks spokesman stated, “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.” The team’s legal representatives argued the ad could mislead the public into believing Mamdani’s campaign was affiliated with or endorsed by the Knicks.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old New York Assemblyman and Ugandan Muslim immigrant, has faced criticism for recent campaign missteps. His proposal for city government-owned grocery stores collapsed after it emerged he lacked understanding of the city budget, including confusion between private and public investment. Additionally, Mamdani was photographed with radical Islamist Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, further complicating his campaign.
Polling shows Mamdani leading former Governor Andrew Cuomo ahead of the final weeks of the race, but repeated errors risk casting him as inexperienced. The Knicks’ legal action adds another layer of scrutiny to his bid for mayor.
