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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Thunder players show off Larry O'Brien trophy in convertibles
The post Thunder players show off Larry O'Brien trophy in convertibles appeared first on ClutchPoints. After Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams clapped back at the championship parade claims of being a bust, the Thunder's Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe had their own parade in their droptop convertibles. From Fort Smith, Arkansas to NBA champions, the two childhood friends returned to their hometown to show off the Larry O'Brien trophy. It was a special moment for Williams and Joe. The two high school teammates at Northside High School in Fort Smith teamed up when Williams was selected 34th overall by the Thunder in 2022. After Isaiah Joe was selected 49th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020, the Thunder signed him as a free agent weeks after selecting Jaylin in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft. The two childhood friends celebrated in their hometown, bringing the Larry O'Brien trophy with them, per Suave Report's Addam Francisco. Fittingly, the parade occurred over a week after Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt declared July 16 as Jaylin Williams Day and on the day of, July 24, Holt declared it to be Isaiah Joe Day in Oklahoma City. Now, July 24 is also celebrated as Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Joe Day in Fort Smith, which was made official during Thursday's 'Thunder in the Fort' parade. Jalen Williams claps back at false claims over Thunder parade Before signing their core three players to max deals, the Thunder inked Jaylin Williams to a three-year extension after celebrating with Oklahoma City amid a championship parade. Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams set the record straight. After claims that the parade was a bust, Williams said that couldn't have been further from the truth, he said, during a recent appearance on The Young Man & The Three podcast. 'The parade, I don't know why everybody was doing the thing where I don't know why it was a trend to like say that there wasn't a ton of people out there, but it was actually overwhelming how many people were there,' Williams said. 'But I mean, I enjoyed it, Oklahoma enjoyed it.' While there were some gaps in the crowd throughout the parade route, most of the excited Thunder fans waited toward the end of the route to greet the team. Then, most gathered by the thousands for a celebration rally at Scissortail Park. 'So it was rushed in a way, and we still have 700,000 people over there,' Williams added. 'The grass that we're on, you can't even see the grass. We didn't even stay on the float; we ran the whole parade.' Williams hopes the Thunder will get a chance for a do-over in 2026. Related: Thunder star Jalen Williams roasted by fans for recreating Kobe Bryant injury photo Related: Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein sounds off on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 'ego'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Sixers guard Isaiah Joe wins a title as Thunder defeat Pacers
There is a new champion in the NBA and it is the Oklahoma City Thunder after earning a ???-??? win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 on Sunday night and winning the first championship in Oklahoma City history. With the Pacers losing All-Star Tyrese Haliburton to a lower leg injury in the first quarter, Indiana didn't have enough in the second half to beat the loaded Thunder. OKC was led by MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who had 29 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds, and fellow All-Star Jalen Williams added 20 points and four rebounds. Young big man Chet Holmgren blocked five shots in a dominant defensive effort. Advertisement Isaiah Joe, a former member of the Philadelphia 76ers, will win his first title. A second-round pick of the Sixers in 2020, Joe didn't get time in Game 7, but he shot 41.1% from deep in 21 playoff games for Oklahoma City as he helped the Thunder get to this point. In terms of other former Sixers, TJ McConnell did his best to help the Pacers get to the top after the injury to Haliburton, but it wasn't enough. He still was impressive as he had 16 points off the bench and led Indiana's gutsy effort, but the Thunder were able to finish it off. The Sixers will now look to reload and get back after it in the 2025-26 season. With a healthy Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, they figure to be in the conversation to come out of the Eastern Conference. This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Former Sixers guard Isaiah Joe wins a title as Thunder defeat Pacers
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inside Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams' 'crazy' journey to Thunder, NBA Finals from Fort Smith
As the sea of excited kids start flooding in, so too do the memories. Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams can't help but reminisce every time they host their annual youth camps in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It's the city they've called home throughout their entire lives. It's where they went from playing in camps themselves to playing alongside each other at Northside High. And it's where they hope to bring back a championship as they now play together on basketball's biggest stage. Advertisement Joe and Williams are teammates on the OKC Thunder, which is facing the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. "Being in this position with a guy like Jaylin is pretty cool," Joe recently said with a smile. "Moments like this don't happen too often. ... I think it's something that's probably not going to hit until later in life, but it's cool." 5 TAKEAWAYS: Thunder thumps Pacers in NBA Finals Game 2 as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC even up series Oklahoma City's Jaylin Williams (6) slaps hands with Isaiah Joe (11) after a play in the third quarter against the Grizzlies during Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs at Paycom Center on April 20. Williams and Joe were also teammates at Northside High in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Not your average Joe Eric Burnett would leave family gatherings on Thanksgiving and Christmas at a moment's notice. All it took was a text from Joe. "Coach B, can I get in the gym?" Advertisement Burnett never said no to those requests while he was Northside's head coach. Not even during holidays, Sundays, early mornings or late nights. He made countless impromptu drives to the school just to unlock the doors for Joe, who was equally eager to unlock new levels of his game. "He kept the gym open for me any time that I wanted it," Joe said. "I really appreciate that. He gave me the access to go in at any time and just better my game and keep growing." That wasn't the only way Burnett opened the door for Joe. Oklahoma City Thunder players Jaylin Williams (left) and Isaiah Joe (right) pose for a photo during their time together with Northside High in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Joe was only in the seventh grade when Burnett allowed him to start working out with Northside's varsity team, since his junior high didn't have an offseason program. But that's where any form of special treatment ended. Advertisement Once Joe stepped onto the court, Burnett pushed him just as hard as the high schoolers. And the 5-foot-10, 13-year-old kid grew up fast as a result. "I didn't make it easy," Burnett told The Oklahoman. "We had some tough workouts, and I think that really helped Isaiah for when he got to high school because he had already been there and done that. He was able to blend right in and do well for us." Joe did more than just blend in once he reached high school. He stood out. Joe led Northside to a Class 7A state championship over North Little Rock as a junior in 2017. He averaged 18.8 points and 4.5 rebounds, and he became the standard for Fort Smith hoopers. Advertisement That included Williams, who joined the team the following season as a sophomore. "(Isaiah) was the first person who I saw work at a high level," Williams said. "I was seeing him work out before school, go home, shower, practice, work out after practice and then come back to practice again. ... He showed me what I needed to do if I wanted to get to the level that he was on." REQUIRED READING: Why Alex Caruso was perfect veteran to guide OKC Thunder on this NBA Finals journey Forming the perfect storm Whether it was the backyard of his childhood home or Tilles Park, Williams grew up on concrete courts. But even that didn't stop him from sprouting at a rapid rate. Advertisement The future pro stood at 6-3 as a freshman and would often play a game called "Jelly or Jam" with his father, Michael. "Jelly" meant Williams would go for a layup, while "Jam" meant he would go for a dunk. Williams usually chose the latter, especially after he experienced a growth spurt. He stretched to 6-10 as a sophomore and instantly formed a lethal duo with Joe. "It was hard to stop those two, especially when I put them in a pick and roll," Burnett said. "What are you gonna do? Because Jaylin shot 3s in high school, too. We could do a pick and pop or roll him to the basket and let him post up. And Isaiah was a really good passer who read things well, so I did a lot of two-game with them." Northside reached the state title game again that season for a rematch against North Little Rock. But its dominant duo wasn't at full strength. Advertisement Williams came down with strep throat and the flu about a week before the game. That caused him to lose 20 pounds and left him bedridden. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) celebrates a basket with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the second half of the NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Miami Heat at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 8, 2024. Burnett did all he could to help Williams recover. He even walked down the street from the team's hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to buy the big man some crackers, soup and Gatorade. But Williams only played about three minutes in the title game before he had to sub out, and Northside suffered a 64-51 loss. "I tried my hardest to go out there and play," said Williams, who led Northside to a 2019 state title after Joe's graduation. "I gave it my all, but we lost. Looking back, I wish I could change everything. I wish I could've won another one, but everything happens for a reason." Advertisement Maybe that reason is to win an even bigger championship together. After spending their college careers at Arkansas without overlapping, the Fort Smith natives were reunited in the NBA. OKC selected Williams in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft, and it signed Joe that same year. Now, the duo could help the Thunder win its first title in franchise history. "I've thought about it," Williams said when asked about that possibility. "It's crazy to think about it, but I think it'll sink in if it does happen. Us being able to share that with the state of Arkansas and the city of Fort Smith, that's when it'll really hit me if it does happen." Advertisement More: The Jalen Williams Way: How OKC Thunder forward paved a path to stardom, NBA Finals Fort Smith's hometown heroes Former teachers and coaches of Williams and Joe will sometimes make the three-hour drive to Oklahoma City to watch them play. The kids they spent so much time around are now men, and most of Williams' body has been covered in tattoos. But his most prominent piece sits on his right shoulder. It's a tattoo of Northside with a dual street sign that reads "Fort Smith" and "Arkansas." Below that are his high school and college jerseys, accompanied by the phrase "Hometown Hero." Williams still wears his love for Fort Smith on his sleeve. So does Joe, whose face lights up every time he talks about where he's from. Advertisement That's all it takes for the memories to start flooding in. "It's very important," Joe said of his roots. "I was born and raised there. I always have to show love to the people that supported me along the way. Without my hometown, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I wouldn't be in this position." More: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has brushed past legacy. NBA Finals will put him in elite company. Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@ or on X/Twitter at @JTheSportsDude. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Inside Isaiah Joe, Jaylin Williams' path from Fort Smith to NBA Finals
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder vs Pacers grades: Bennedict Mathurin turns NBA Finals in Indiana's favor in Game 3
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. INDIANAPOLIS — Now things get interesting for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. After getting outscored by 14 points in the fourth quarter of a 116-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 Wednesday night, OKC now trails the best-of-seven series 2-1. Advertisement Game 4 is set for Friday night, but let's get to the Game 3 grades first. CARLSON: Carlson: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander must 'apply that pressure back' for OKC to win NBA Finals Taking care of the basketball: D The Pacers beat the Thunder at OKC's own game. OKC was sloppy with the basketball. Indiana scored 21 points off of OKC's turnovers. It was an uncharacteristic night for the Thunder both in the number of turnovers it committed and the lack of turnovers (13) it forced. — Joe Mussatto, Columnist 5 TAKEAWAYS: OKC Thunder falls into 2-1 hole in NBA Finals vs Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers Containing Bennedict Mathurin: F Bennedict Mathurin scored a game-high 27 points in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Let that sink in for a second. Advertisement Mathurin was dynamite off Indy's bench, shooting 9 of 12. He was a plus-16 in his 22 minutes. The Pacers' bench outscored the Thunder's bench 49-18! — Joe Mussatto, Columnist Isaiah Joe: B Isaiah Joe buoyed the Thunder's floundering offense in the second quarter. Amid an extended Pacers run, Joe buried back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game 39-39 and then 42-42. Joe was a combined 1 of 3 from deep across 17 minutes in Games 1 and 2. Wednesday was the first road playoff game in which Joe hit multiple 3-pointers since the first-round series against Memphis. Joe didn't play in the second half. — Joe Mussatto, Columnist Advertisement More: How big was Pacers' bench in Game 3? Inside the stats for Thunder's NBA Finals loss Pacers' gold out: A It was a gold rush at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Pacers packed the place in gold 'But this is Indiana' shirts — a nod to their 'In 49 states it's just basketball, but this is Indiana' mantra. Fans accessorized their free T-shirts with light-up wristbands that flickered in gold and blue before tip-off and during timeouts. — Joe Mussatto, Columnist Thunder reserves: D What a disaster of a night for the Thunder bench. It combined to score only 18 points, while the Pacers' reserves scored 49 points, and while the second-teamers' job isn't to try to outscore the other team, they are supposed to give the Thunder a lift. Wednesday, they were flat. Advertisement Alex Caruso wasn't nearly the defensive pest that he normally is as the Pacers outscored the Thunder by 15 points while he was on the court. Aaron Wiggins, so good in Game 2, was scoreless, and Isaiah Hartenstein, who also had a big impact in Sunday's win, only had four points and three rebounds. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist More: NBA Finals Game 3 box score, stats: Indiana Pacers pull past OKC Thunder to go up 2-1 Pregame energy: D Having heard about what a great home environment the Pacers have, I was hyped to experience Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But in the build-up before the game, the vibe was surprisingly uninspired. Advertisement Less than 20 minutes before tipoff, there were still lots of empty seats. The volume was low. The energy was subdued. For the Pacers' first home NBA Finals game in 25 years, I expected the roof to be ready to blow. Not even close. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist End-game energy: A Pacer fans absolutely brought it in the end. When Obi Toppin rebounded a Tyrese Haliburton miss and threw down a powerful put-back dunk, Gainbridge Fieldhouse actually shook. The vibrations could be felt through the floor. So, yeah, that was impressive. And as the Pacers continued getting stops and turnovers and baskets, the fans stayed loud. Advertisement Now, I could've done without Pat McAfee doing an in-game pep talk during a timeout — the less a guy who spews toxic masculinity is given a microphone, the better — but that wasn't the fault of the Pacers' fans. They were magnificent late. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist Thunder free-throw shooting: D The Thunder got to the free-throw line 30 times, a number that is usually part of a winning formula, but it missed seven of those free shots. That's Oklahoma City's most missed free throws since Game 3 against Denver, which ironically was also a disappointing loss. That one was in overtime, but the misses were a killer in not being able to steal that win on the road. Advertisement So it was Wednesday. And as if the number of misses could get worse, four of them were in the fourth quarter, including three in the final minute of the game. —Jenni Carlson, Columnist This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Thunder-Pacers grades: Bennedict Mathurin fuels NBA Finals Game 3 win
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Finals, Pacers vs. Thunder: Who won the regular season series?
The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are just days away from taking the court together and duking it out for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Neither team has ever won an NBA championship − the Seattle Supersonics won a title in 1979, but that doesn't count here − meaning these are the most pivotal games in franchise history for both of these squads. The best bet is anyone's guess. While the Thunder ended the regular season with the best record in the NBA, the Pacers have proved themselves to be one of the most clutch teams in the league. They have that "it" factor that has elevated them over other organizations that arguably have more talent. If that trend continues in the Finals, they should have no issue holding their own against a very talented Thunder team. Advertisement Perhaps the best way to predict a winner is the most obvious: taking a look at how these teams fared against each other during the regular season. Here's how they fared when facing each other earlier this year. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe drives to the basket beside Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam during the second quarter at Paycom Center. NBA News: As NBA draft approaches, Wasserman agency reveals large 2025 class The Thunder won the season series 2-0, winning by a combined 27 points in those two contests. Here are the matchups: Dec. 26, 2024 - Thunder 120, Pacers 114 The Thunder were dominant throughout the final three quarters of this game, rattling off 30 points in the second, third and fourth of this one. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 45 points and three other Thunder players finished with double digits as OKC pulled out a close win. March 29, 2025 - Thunder 132, Pacers 111 The second matchup wasn't as close as the Thunder scored 73 points in just the second and third quarters. The Pacers, contrary to their namesake, could not keep pace. Advertisement SGA tallied 33 points, while Tyrese Haliburton could only put up 18 for Indiana. Haliburton was quiet in both games, which was likely Oklahoma City's game plan all along. If the Thunder could force Indiana's best player into a playmaking role, he wouldn't be lighting up the scoresheet. Clearly, it worked to perfection during the regular season. 2025 NBA Finals schedule: *-if necessary. All times Eastern Game 1, June 5: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, 8:30 p.m. Game 2, June 8: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, 8 p.m. Game 3, June 11: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, 8:30 p.m. Game 4, June 13: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, 8:30 p.m. Game 5, June 16: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, 8:30 p.m.* Game 6, June 19: Thunder at Pacers | ABC, 8:30 p.m.* Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC, 8 p.m.* NBA News: Latest injury update on Pacers forward Jarace Walker before NBA Finals This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NBA Finals: Pacers vs. Thunder regular season record
