Latest news with #LarryO'Brien
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Thunder championship parade turnout: 'Best city in the world'
Holding the Larry O'Brien trophy, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had plenty of highlights from the Oklahoma City Thunder's championship parade. Hot summer temperatures didn't scare folks from attending. Half a million packed themselves into downtown to see them celebrate the franchise's first title. Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder teammates showed a side of themselves that hasn't been publicly seen before. A championship will bring that out of you. The usual stoic Aaron Wiggins showed off his charisma on the microphone to kick things off. Jaylin Williams had the Scissortail Park hang onto every one of his words in an epic expletive-filled speech to close the parade off that would've had Stone Cold Steve Austin smile. Usually, NBA champions stay on their buses as they make the rounds. But Gilgeous-Alexander did the opposite. The MVP winner walked the streets. Reaching out the championship trophy over the barricade for fans to touch, Gilgeous-Alexander showed the Thunder faithful his love for their commitment over the years as they went from a rebuild to one of the greatest teams ever. 'Best city in the world, if you guys can't tell already," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "Best city in the world.' That's music to Thunder fans' ears. The scary part for the rest of the NBA is that this is only the beginning in OKC. Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren ensure the Thunder will remain in title conversations for the foreseeable future. Heck, they're the favorites to repeat next year. For Gilgeous-Alexander to show Thunder fans love on the biggest day of his career shows the bond built between the team and OKC. He's quickly risen through the ranks as the greatest player in Thunder history. Sorry, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. "Best feeling in the world... Best city in the world."Nothing SGA would rather be than a champion in Oklahoma City 💯🏆
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander letting Thunder fans touch Larry O'Brien Trophy goes viral
The post Shai Gilgeous-Alexander letting Thunder fans touch Larry O'Brien Trophy goes viral appeared first on ClutchPoints. On Sunday evening, the Oklahoma City Thunder broke through and won their first NBA championship with a resounding Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won Finals MVP for his efforts in the series, becoming the first player in 25 years to win league MVP, the scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same year. Advertisement On Tuesday, the Thunder got a chance to celebrate the championship victory with their fans as part of the team's parade. At one point during the festivities, Gilgeous-Alexander left his float and took a walk down the street, allowing fans to touch the Larry O'Brien trophy in the process in a moment that quickly went viral on social media (per NBA Latam on X, formerly Twitter). It was just another example of how much Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City community have embraced one another over the last several years, eventually culminating in this year's NBA title. A huge moment for the Thunder Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images While in some respects, Game 7 was overshadowed by the torn Achilles suffered by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton early in the first quarter, that shouldn't take away from what the Thunder were able to accomplish in 2024-25. Advertisement The Thunder were the best team in the league all season, setting a franchise record with 68 wins and also setting various records during their playoff run. While the series against the Pacers was a bit harder than many anticipated, the young Thunder ultimately got the job done, thanks in no small part to the brilliance of Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder now find themselves in the rare position of coming off of a championship and still having several clear avenues to get better the following offseason. Oklahoma City has 15 first round draft picks over the next seven years at their disposal, and they also have various trade chip pieces on their bench as well as youngsters like Nikola Topic waiting in the wings. Advertisement Whatever route they choose to go this offseason, the Thunder have now officially etched their names into NBA immortality. Related: Thunder news: OKC mayor crowns Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook Related: Isaiah Hartenstein reveals hilarious story of Thunder's free agency recruitment
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
The Oklahoma City Thunder's championship Game 7 ball up for grabs in auction with a whopping price tag
The Oklahoma City Thunder's championship Game 7 ball up for grabs in auction with a whopping price tag (Image Source: Getty Images) Game 7 was a very important moment for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They won by 103-91 against the Indiana Pacers. After a neck-to-neck fight, the series left the fans extremely nervous. However, it was more than a win; it made history. It brought the trophy home. The team and its supporters had been waiting for a really long time for this moment. This last game was the first Game 7 Finals in the league since 2016. Hence, it increased the sporting artifacts' historical value. Speaking of which, the basketball from Game 7 will now head to auction and possibly bring $50,000. NBA fans have a chance to own a piece of history made by the Oklahoma City Thunder Hardcore Basketball fans will now have the opportunity to own a piece of history, thanks to the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 7. The epic game resulted in the franchise winning its first NBA title. The final was exciting as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers. It eventually ended with wild scenes on and off the court. The players ran a two-mile victory lap and then sprayed each other with champagne in the locker room. Additionally, star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made sure that anybody who showed up at Tuesday's parade had an opportunity to touch the Larry O'Brien trophy. Meanwhile, the court-used basketball from June 22, Sunday's thrilling 2025 NBA Finals game is up for auction now. The auction is being conducted by Sotheby's in New York. As per TMZ, bidding opens on June 26 and wraps up on July 2. The ball is expected to draw significant interest from sports fans and collectors. Given its significance and rarity, it's supposed to go for around $50,000. According to the same source, a representative of Sotheby's addressed the eager Oklahoma City collectors and said: 'It's a rare chance to own a piece of basketball history and we expect strong interest from collectors and fans alike – especially from Oklahoma City.' For the fans and the collectors, the ball is a lot more than just a piece of the game. It signifies victory and an exciting end to a series that had baseball fans on the edge of their seats. However, whether it ends up in a museum or a private vault, this Game 7 ball will forever be famous for making history. Also Read: NBA Draft 2025: Top 7 red carpet looks from Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Cedric Coward, and others Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
NBA: Thunder parade championship trophy through OKC
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carries the Larry O'Brien trophy as he celebrates with fans as the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their first NBA Finals title win with a champions parade throughout downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Terry/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images/REUTERS A shirtless Shai Gilgeous-Alexander toted the NBA Finals MVP trophy behind a parade float Tuesday, raising his left hand to the beat of chants of "MVP, MVP" from the crowd as Oklahoma City turned out in temperatures approaching triple-digits to celebrate the Thunder's first championship. Alexander, who began the day in a white tank with his Canadian flag shirt tied around his waist, carried the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to the barricade so fans could touch the hardware. Accounting for humidity, the heat index at the peak of the parade was 101 degrees according to AccuWeather. Thick air didn't slow down the party for the Thunder or thousands of fans assembled for a celebration that started in Midtown on Tuesday morning. Defensive stopper Lu Dort and 7-footer Chet Holmgren showered attendees with champagne, first from the second level of the team's double-decker bus and later from the top of a golf cart. "It's very hot out here, so I'm going to keep this short and sweet," Jalen Williams said. "Without this, none of this is possible without you guys. You guys have been through the ups and downs of the Thunder organization. We appreciate you guys. We love you guys." Isaiah Hartenstein said he hadn't slept for 36 hours, unlike his young son, who was fast asleep in his father's arms in the immediate aftermath of the team's Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. "It's amazing. To experience it with the family, with the community, it's been really special," Hartenstein said. The celebration included a stage for the closing ceremony at Scissortail Park. Thunder fans packed close to the stage and again Gilgeous-Alexander entered the crowd, bringing the trophy through throngs of supporters for pictures and an up-close opportunity with the NBA's championship prize. Aaron Wiggins ignited the crowd with a brief speech that touched on humble beginnings as the 55th pick to a franchise that won 24 games during his rookie season. "There was a point where they tried to call us the black hole of the NBA," Wiggins said. "But four years later, when they mention the Thunder organization when they mention (owner) Clay Bennett, (general manager) Sam Presti, (head coach) Mark Daigneault and every single one of you in this arena, they've got to mention you as NBA champs. And that's it!" --Field Level Media/Reuters
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
After underdog Pacers extend NBA Finals against Thunder, it's 'one game for everything'
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. INDIANAPOLIS — Half-drank Gatorades and hardly-sipped protein shakes were sprawled across the carpet where the champagne stains would've been setting in. Glazed eyes and long stares could not be hidden by protective, celebratory goggles. Their hands fiddled, occasionally running through braids or massaging the disappointment from their chins; they're another few nights away from their final chance to hot potato the Larry O'Brien. The Oklahoma City Thunder, having entered Thursday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals with a 3-2 lead, ended the night framing the opportunity that Sunday is. Thursday's shot was long gone. Advertisement History, coaches, Alex Caruso — the only player on either side that's closed out a Finals — can attempt to illustrate how difficult wrapping a series of this magnitude is. But OKC can't truly feel that weight until it's surrounded, Gainbridge howling from every direction. Until its descent upon the Thunder's title hopes leads to role player roll call; O-bi Top-pin was chanted like the national anthem by the third quarter. Until it's forcibly sent home to devise a new plan, the next one for the kill. 'Closing out in the Finals is different than a playoff game because it's the end of the season,' said All-Star Jalen Williams, a minus-40 in OKC's 108-91 loss to the Pacers. 'You play for so long that it just has more weight to it. Obviously, you want to win a championship. You don't want to feel like it was all for nothing.' Uncharacteristic. Coach Mark Daigneault rarely underscores a word shot toward him in a question, but this one he isolated. Advertisement MUSSATTO: Thunder subject to whims of NBA Finals Game 7 after Game 6 no-show at Pacers Pacers outplay Thunder 'for most of the 48 minutes' It was the best way — perhaps the only way — to describe OKC's three-quarter decay, one of the only instances during this dream season where it's sat its starters in the fourth quarter for the wrong reasons. Indiana led by 30 entering the final period. 'They outplayed us for most of the 48 minutes,' Daigneault said plainly. 'That's the story of the game. They went out there and attacked the game. 'It was disappointing. It was collective. It wasn't one guy.' Advertisement Nor was Indiana's effort. The Pacers were ravenous. Desperate. The urgency consumed the Thunder, which succumbed to this compounding pounding midway through the third quarter. Indiana forced 21 turnovers to OKC's 10. The Pacers had nine more assists. They shot 12 more 3-pointers, making seven more than OKC. The Thunder scored 60 points through three quarters, its fewest points before the fourth in any game this season. That the Thunder trailed by just three after 12 minutes felt astonishing. Indiana emerged from its first timeout on a 22-7 run. Its true fury had yet to manifest. The dogged spirit of T.J. McConnell. The replenished abilities of Tyrese Haliburton. The fortitude of Pascal Siakam. The explosiveness of Obi Toppin. Advertisement CARLSON: Thunder needs Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play like the MVP again to win NBA title INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: The Oklahoma City Thunder look on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. T.J. McConnell carves up Thunder defense again in NBA Finals McConnell continued to make his own fortune. This 6-foot-1 shot caller who breached the paint without appointment. He whistled past revered defender Cason Wallace like a harmless janitor. In an eight-point game, he slipped underneath center Isaiah Hartenstein's reach, the Tom to his Jerry, for an inexcusable offensive rebound. That feeling that comes when MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sizes up from 17 feet out, the inevitability of his jumper — McConnell wielded that like an Infinity Stone. Up nearly 30 with mere minutes to play, he remained merciless, picking off careless backcourt passes from remnants of OKC's Summer League squad. Advertisement Game 6 was no fumble. The Thunder's grip never quite resembled anything more than a slick grasp coated in butter. Enough burying plays that the film sessions that follow could be franchised and stretched further than Fast and The Furious. Gilgeous-Alexander had eight turnovers, five of them by half, complete with 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting. McConnell even stole jumpers mid-air. Chet Holmgren missed an uncontested alley-oop. OKC's window in the third, when it finally strung together enough stops to crawl back, went unanswered. Its first score didn't come until there was 6:59 to play in the period. Its idea of generating 3s were Lu Dort's spot-up 3s, not always volunteered. Haliburton, questionable with a calf strain entering Thursday before tallying 14 points and five assists, lunged toward the sideline to make one of the most memorable plays in the building's history. Advertisement With less than a minute left in the first half of Indiana's bludgeoning, Haliburton batted away a pass from Williams. He and Pacers legend Reggie Miller nearly came face to face when he finally chased down the ball, keeping it in play to split Williams and Dort with a spiral to Siakam. 5 TAKEAWAYS: Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers pummel Thunder to force Game 7 of NBA Finals Jun 19, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Ben Sheppard (26) in the third quarter during game six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images SGA, Thunder 'can learn our lessons' from Game 6 loss Siakam's cinematic rise summoned Frank Sinatra's voice on vinyl somewhere. His off-arm wrapped around Williams to ensure punishment. On this game-defining poster slam, Siakam cocked his arm back with the might of Jordan Belfort — I'm not leaving, his mid-air moment screamed. Not yet. Advertisement Not until these fighting Pacers secured a fitting final shot against the largely favored Thunder. Who would these Pacers be if not in it? Capable of enforcing two of the worst middle quarters of OKC's season to keep their own alive. The team with a roach's resourcefulness and a cat's number of lives. As often as the Thunder has welcomed new experiences, this one seemingly weighs like a mass. Strenuous to lug around the ambition of a 17-year-old franchise. Carrying the organization's previous demons on its shoulder. Altering the breathing habits of a city that's never been closer to this altitude. Oklahoma City received one final crash course on urgency. One last taste of blood with the capability of hopping back up, the smelling salt that is its back on the wall. Quicker than the team filed onto the second bus, the Thunder realized it won't get another. 'We can learn our lessons,' Gilgeous-Alexander said. 'We have one game for everything, for everything we've worked for, and so do they. The better team Sunday will win. Advertisement 'One game for everything you ever dreamed of. If you win it, you get everything. If you lose it, you get nothing. It's that simple.' Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@ or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Joel's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at More: Where does Thunder scoring drought rank in NBA Finals history? Inside the Game 6 numbers NBA Finals schedule: Thunder vs. Pacers All times are Central Advertisement This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder's dream season now comes down to 'one game for everything'
