New York Knicks Demand Senate Candidate Stop Using Team Logo in Campaign

The NBA champion New York Knicks have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Queens Senate candidate Aver Kawas, demanding she immediately stop using the team's logo in her election campaign. The Knicks warned on June 26 that they would take legal action if Kawas did not remove all campaign materials featuring the club's intellectual property. The team recently won their first NBA championship in 53 years, making them a prominent topic in New York.

Kawas, the Democratic nominee for the New York State Senate seat, used an altered version of the Knicks logo in social media posts and campaign stickers. Brian N. Warner, senior vice president and general counsel for Madison Square Garden Sports, stated that neither the Knicks nor NBA Properties authorized the use of their intellectual property. Warner explained that unauthorized use could mislead the public into believing the campaign is affiliated with or supported by the Knicks.

The Knicks cited trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition as grounds for their legal demand. The letter followed a June 20 post by Kawas on X (formerly Twitter), shortly after the Knicks' championship win. Kawas is supported by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who also previously faced a similar legal warning from the Knicks after attempting to use the team's branding in his own campaign ads in October 2025.

The current legal dispute occurs amid a public feud between Knicks owner billionaire James Dolan and Mayor Mamdani's administration. The conflict intensified after the city canceled fan viewing events outside Madison Square Garden during the NBA Finals due to security restrictions. Dolan, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, has a strained relationship with Mayor Mamdani. This background adds context to the Knicks' firm stance against political use of their intellectual property.