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7 hours ago
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When is the Thunder's NBA Finals championship parade?
The post When is the Thunder's NBA Finals championship parade? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Following their 103-91 win in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first championship in the OKC era. The Thunder do not claim the Seattle Sonics' history, so this is essentially their first championship in franchise history. The question then becomes, when is the Thunder's championship parade? Advertisement After their NBA Finals win, the Thunder's championship parade is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m., as per Brandon Rahbar of The Daily Thunder. The Thunder were among the few teams considered contenders for the NBA championship this season. They were the best team in the Western Conference this past season with an overall record of 68-14. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. They followed that up with a grueling seven games series in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, and then easily dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder were then challenged again by the Pacers in the NBA Finals, being pushed to a deciding Game 7. The Thunder finished with the best record and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during the 2023-24 season as well, but they were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals. It's been 13 years since the Thunder have made it to the NBA Finals. The first time they reached the Finals was in 2012 with the star trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Advertisement Scott Brooks was the head coach when the Thunder last reached the NBA Finals. His tenure was followed by Billy Donovan who coached the team to five playoff appearances in five seasons, including one conference finals appearance. Donovan was replaced with Mark Daigneault, who has led the team to two playoff appearances in five seasons so far. But one of those seasons includes an NBA championship. Related: Isaiah Hartenstein's son fast asleep on Thunder's NBA Finals podium Related: Thunder guard Alex Caruso forced to give champagne-popping tutorial
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10 hours ago
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How Mark Daigneault planted ‘seeds' to Thunder's NBA Finals growth
The post How Mark Daigneault planted 'seeds' to Thunder's NBA Finals growth appeared first on ClutchPoints. OKLAHOMA CITY — In a regular season where the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with a 24-58 record, head coach Mark Daigneault saw glimmers of hope. All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and All-Defensive guard Lu Dort are the only remaining starters from the 2021-22 squad, and Kenrich Williams and Aaron Wiggins, a rookie at the time, still come off the bench for Daigneault. Still, so much has changed as the Thunder are the favorites entering the NBA Finals. Advertisement After winning 22 and 24 games in back-to-back seasons, the Thunder finished with 40 wins in 2022-23, then finished with the best record in the Western Conference with a 57-25 mark last season, to a franchise-record 68 wins this year. During NBA Finals Media Day, Daigneault reflected on those early years that set the stage for his first NBA Finals appearance. 'There were very early flickers even in those early years. Those were challenging years at different times. Certainly, they looked like challenging years on paper,' Daigneault said. 'How it felt every day wasn't a reflection of our record or our standing in the league; you could feel that something was starting to simmer. You could feel that some of the seeds we were planting were going to be flowering at some point. There were very early indications of that, even in those seasons. 'So, we were confident even back then. Not necessarily that we'd be in the Finals right now. You never know the timing of when things come together. But we were confident that we were building something special and something that had the ability to sustain,' Daigneault concluded. For Daigneault and the Thunder, the early habits translated into wins, which built confidence both individually and as a team. Advertisement 'Then, as time went on, there were just more and more experiences that gave us more confidence in that, but that belief existed at the earliest point in time,' Daigneault added. 'A lot of that had to do with the way the guys were approaching every day, independent of the outcome of the games.' Now, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is in the NBA Finals. Chet Holmgren's 17 winners Thunder take before NBA Finals Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Thunder forward Chet Holmgren says his team's confidence resonates throughout all of his teammates. It's what's led to a successful season, where the Thunder are four wins away from an NBA title. Advertisement 'The biggest thing is playing for each other. It's the type of guys that we have here,' Holmgren said. 'Everybody's going to tell you that they're a winner, and everybody is a winner until it's inconvenient for them. I feel like we have a team with 17 winners that are going to put winning at the top.' The Thunder will host the Pacers in Game 1. Related: Why Pacers' Aaron Nesmith is ready for SGA after Jalen Brunson battle Related: Thunder's Chet Holmgren makes '17 winners' declaration ahead of NBA Finals
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10 hours ago
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Thunder news: OKC mayor crowns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
The post Thunder news: OKC mayor crowns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook appeared first on ClutchPoints. Fresh off their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, the Oklahoma City Thunder held a championship parade on Tuesday to celebrate their Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Amid the celebrations, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt made headlines with a bold proclamation regarding the franchise's all-time greats. Advertisement Introducing Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the stage, Holt referred to him as 'the greatest player to ever put on the uniform,' effectively placing him above former Thunder superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Gilgeous-Alexander took the microphone following Holt's introduction and thanked the city and fans for their support throughout the season and championship run. 'Thank you guys so much,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'Don't ever forget this — moments in life like this, they don't come and go often. Make sure you guys enjoy this moment with your family, your friends, your loved ones… everyone that helped you and us get here and don't forget who they are. Don't ever turn your back on them – just like us as a team, just like us as a community, just like the city of Oklahoma. Thank you guys.' The moment marked the culmination of a remarkable season for the 26-year-old, who led the Thunder to a franchise-record 68 wins during the regular season. Gilgeous-Alexander was named the 2024–25 NBA Most Valuable Player after averaging 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per game on 51.9% shooting from the field and 37.5% from three across 76 appearances. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP run and Finals heroics spark debate over his place atop Thunder history Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images He carried that success into the postseason, guiding Oklahoma City past the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves before defeating the Pacers in a seven-game NBA Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander earned Finals MVP honors, averaging 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field in the series. Advertisement In Game 7, he delivered a signature performance — finishing with 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes. The Thunder pulled away late to secure a 103–91 victory and claim the first NBA championship in franchise history since relocating to Oklahoma City. The Thunder's title run not only delivered a long-awaited championship to the city but also reshaped the conversation around the team's historical hierarchy. Durant, who won an MVP with the Thunder and led them to the 2012 NBA Finals, left in 2016 for the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook, the 2017 MVP, became synonymous with the franchise's identity after Durant's departure but never secured a championship during his tenure. With a title, an MVP award, and a Finals MVP now on his resume, Gilgeous-Alexander has positioned himself at the forefront of Oklahoma City's basketball legacy. Holt's comments at the parade reflect a growing sentiment that the current face of the franchise may already stand above the stars who came before him. Related: Thunder's Jalen Williams 'feeling loose' at parade after viral 'Shirley Temples' comment Related: Isaiah Hartenstein reveals hilarious story of Thunder's free agency recruitment
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10 hours ago
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Alex Caruso declares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘face of the league' after Thunder's Finals win
The post Alex Caruso declares Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 'face of the league' after Thunder's Finals win appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Oklahoma City Thunder were victorious over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on Sunday night, with superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unsurprisingly taking home Finals MVP for his squad. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander earned a new label from his veteran backcourt running mate, Alex Caruso, that will certainly catch fans' attention. Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed a season for the ages, as he was the league's leading scorer who also won the 2024-25 MVP Award. He followed that up by dominating in the postseason, leading the Thunder all the way to the first championship in their franchise history. With the face of the NBA discussion still being debated among fans, Caruso confidently handed that label to Gilgeous-Alexander after Oklahoma City topped Indiana. 'As far as face of the league and best player on best team, he's got that capability,' Caruso said of Gilgeous-Alexander after Game 7, per Josue Pavon of ClutchPoints. 'I think the thing that sets him apart is he'll probably be hungry for more. He probably won't be satisfied with just winning this one time. He'll want to do it again, he'll want to be better, he'll want to see how he can tweak and maneuver his game to better fit and take advantage of the way people guard him.' Alex Caruso, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrate Thunder's Finals victory Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images All the individual accolades are nice, but Gilgeous-Alexander has made it clear that his primary goal was to win a title with the Thunder this season. While he led the way, he needed the help of everyone else on OKC's roster, with the addition of Caruso being one of the biggest moves that helped the team take the next step forward this season. Advertisement Now, they get to celebrate their major accomplishment together, without having to worry about what's next. In Caruso's eyes, though, Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly established himself as the next great superstar in the NBA, and while the star guard will surely soak up the celebration from his championship win, you can bet he will return next season looking to prove that this is the only the start for him. Related: How Thunder forward Chet Holmgren's injury battle makes NBA title even more sweet Related: The $293.4 million contract Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extension is eligible for after NBA title
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10 hours ago
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UConn legend Jim Calhoun shares wish for Thunder's Mark Daigneault after NBA Finals
The post UConn legend Jim Calhoun shares wish for Thunder's Mark Daigneault after NBA Finals appeared first on ClutchPoints. Jim Calhoun has seen legends rise. He has coached some of the biggest names in college basketball and built UConn into a powerhouse. But even with all the banners hanging in Storrs, there is one name Calhoun believes still deserves a spotlight. Advertisement That name is Mark Daigneault. Before leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an NBA title this year and earning Coach of the Year honors in 2024, Daigneault was a quiet presence on the UConn sidelines. He was not a star player or high-profile recruit. From 2003 to 2007, he served as a student manager under Calhoun, taping ankles, fetching towels, and doing the unnoticed work that keeps a program running smoothly. Calhoun recently told longtime UConn reporter Dom Amore that he believes Daigneault should be honored by the university. To him, Daigneault represents something important, something that goes beyond the usual standards of recognition. He wants to see his former student manager celebrated for what he has become—a leader at the highest level of the sport. Daigneault's basketball journey is far from conventional. After graduating from UConn in 2007, he worked his way up through the coaching ranks. He spent time as an assistant at Holy Cross and then joined the Florida Gators under Billy Donovan. Advertisement From there, he made the jump to the NBA G League, where he coached the Oklahoma City Blue. When the Thunder needed a new head coach in 2020, they turned to Daigneault, and he quietly began crafting a new era for the team. Fast forward to this season. The Thunder posted a league-best 68 wins. His team battled through the playoffs, reached the Finals, and captured the elusive NBA title, while showcasing one of the most exciting young cores in the league. It was a season built on chemistry, discipline, and player development—things Daigneault learned to value in his early days at UConn. That is what makes Calhoun's push for recognition so meaningful. He is not just campaigning for a former assistant or a rising coach; he is vouching for someone who grew up in the UConn system, someone who poured time and energy into the program without ever putting on a uniform. It reflects the culture Calhoun created. UConn has always prided itself on grit, teamwork, and a deep respect for the game. Daigneault embodies all of that. Honoring him would not only celebrate his success, but it would send a message to every student manager, trainer, and behind-the-scenes worker in college basketball that their contributions matter. Advertisement There are many ways UConn could pay tribute. Perhaps a ceremony at Gampel Pavilion or a plaque in the training facility. Maybe even inclusion in the Huskies of Honor. The details are less important than the gesture itself. What matters is that UConn recognizes a man who started in its locker rooms and now leads on basketball's biggest stage. Daigneault's rise is not a fluke. It is the result of years of dedication and a deep understanding of the game. He coached with calm under pressure during the Thunder's postseason run and earned the respect of players, analysts, and peers alike. And it all began in Storrs, with a coach who believed in him. As the Thunder continue to celebrate their title, Calhoun's call for recognition serves as a reminder that UConn is not just a school of champions; it is a school that builds character. Daigneault's journey is proof of that. In a world where stars often grab the headlines, it is refreshing to see a story about someone who worked in the shadows and rose to greatness. Daigneault may not have made game-winning shots in a UConn jersey, but his legacy is just as important. Advertisement And now, it is time for UConn to say thank you. Related: Duke coach Jon Scheyer drops truth bomb on Cooper Flagg's Mavericks fit Related: Iowa State basketball sends 3-word message to Tyrese Haliburton after painful Game 7
