The New York Knicks have sent a “cease & desist letter” to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for using the team’s logo in a campaign ad. The advertisement, which depicted an amateur basketball game in New York, aired during the team’s home opener on Wednesday night. The Knicks stated they did not endorse Mamdani and objected to his use of their copyrighted logo, vowing to pursue legal action to protect their rights.

The ad featured an altered version of the Knicks’ orange and blue logo, replacing “Knicks” with “Zohran.” It was shared widely on Mamdani’s campaign social media platforms with the caption “This is our year. This is our time.” The candidate removed the content after reports surfaced about the team’s letter, which claimed the promo risked misleading the public into believing his campaign was affiliated with or endorsed by the Knicks.

The dispute occurs ahead of the November 4 mayoral election, where Mamdani, a Democrat, faces Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo. Early voting begins October 25.