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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Isaiah Hartenstein calls Nuggets Round 2 series the Thunder's toughest playoff test
Despite cruising to a historic 68-14 regular-season record, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to truly roll up their sleeves and earn an NBA championship with a grueling playoff journey. While two of their four playoff series went the distance, only one left a lasting impression. Count Isaiah Hartenstein as another Thunder player who recalls their Round 2 series win over the Denver Nuggets as their toughest test. It went the distance as OKC blew out Denver in a decisive Game 7. The back-and-forth classic saw the eventual NBA champion fall behind twice in the series before getting the win. Hartenstein appeared on "Podcast P with Paul George" to talk about the Thunder's championship run. The 26-year-old played an important role as he was mostly a starter throughout the two months of high-intensity basketball. It was a group effort to limit Nikola Jokic that was mentally and physically taxing. All hands were on deck to limit him. Hartenstein had his turns against Jokic to match up size with size. Chet Holmgren did the same when the three-time MVP winner tried to bully his way to the basket. It resulted in some pretty ugly shooting performances from Denver's best player. Finally, Alex Caruso matched up against him despite the size disadvantage in a curveball move that helped the Thunder win Game 7. "I think the only series where we were kinda a little bit on the ropes was Denver. Just Jokic and the way they play. They've been there before," Hartenstein said. "That was the only series we were like, 'Even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance.' Every other series was like, 'If we do the right things, we're good.'" It shouldn't be a shocker to see the Thunder feel that way. It certainly felt like it at the time. Even though it was a Round 2 series, everybody thought the eventual NBA champion would come out of that series as the winner. Battling last year's ghosts, OKC showed why this season was different compared to last. The Thunder had to learn how to win close playoff battles. They did that against the Nuggets. It paid dividends a few weeks later when they went through a similar song and dance against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. This time, they were prepared for the moment and won the Larry O'Brien trophy because of it. "The Nuggets were the only series we were like, 'Even if we do everything right, they probably still have a chance.''Isaiah Hartenstein shares why Jokic & the Nuggets were OKC's biggest threat during their Finals run.
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren officially sign contract extensions with OKC Thunder
No such thing as lazy Sunday afternoons for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NBA champion announced they have officially signed Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren to contract extensions. The franchise cornerstones put ink to paper. Williams reportedly signed a five-year, $287 million extension. Holmgren reportedly signed a five-year, $250 million extension. Both deals will keep them in OKC through the 2030-31 season. It's been quite the offseason for the Thunder. Fresh off capturing the Larry O'Brien trophy, the celebrations continued into July. They had the chance to lock down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren to long-term deals this summer. Boom. Boom. Boom. All three are done. Gilgeous-Alexander wasted little time signing a four-year, $285 million supermax extension that'll keep him in OKC through the 2030-31 season. It was the biggest contract he could've signed for this summer. The Thunder gladly backed up the Brink's trucks for the MVP winner. Now, the Thunder have their star trio under contract for the rest of the decade. That's nearly a billion dollars tied up in three players. But hey, it's champagne problems any other team would gladly deal with. They've already won one NBA championship with this group and could be in line for more. Thunder PR:Jalen Williams has officially signed his contract extension Thunder PR:Chet Holmgren has officially signed his contract extension
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Caruso on Thunder motivations to win championship: 'If you win, everybody gets paid'
Nothing sweeter than the offseason following an NBA championship. You enjoy a nonstop press tour throughout the summer. Everybody wants you on their show. They want to know about your journey to being a ring holder. Players get a chance to run a victory lap after a victory lap. The Oklahoma City Thunder are experiencing that for the first time. After they won the Larry O'Brien trophy to cap off one of the greatest seasons ever, they've had the chance to party it up in the offseason. They'll enter next season as a favorite to repeat. As the lone player on the Thunder roster to have a championship before June, Alex Caruso talked about the behind-the-scenes of their voyage to the mountaintop. The 31-year-old appeared on the "Dan Patrick Show" to discuss his first season in OKC and how he played a vital role in its playoff run. Besides achieving basketball nirvana, Caruso said the Thunder were also motivated by the second contract they're within grasp of. At the end of the day, the NBA is a business. You're trying to get as much money as you can out of the machine before your career is cut short. The two-time NBA champion understands the amount of cache a title buys you for that. "I think there are enough examples throughout the history of basketball and the league, if you win, everybody gets paid," Caruso said. "Even the team in 2020 that won the 'ship for us in the Lakers. A couple of guys didn't get brought back, but they got paid other ways." Caruso listed off several Lakers role players who looked like they were about to exit the league for good before their 2020 Bubble Run bought them some extra runway. He mentioned Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green and JaVale McGee all received reputation boosts as veterans with championship experience. Those are the intangibles teams always look to add to their locker rooms. The Thunder are a little different than that veteran Lakers squad. They were the second-youngest champion in NBA history. So instead of a bunch of older players clinging onto their careers, their roster was filled with guys on their rookie-scale deals who are due up for an extension. Even though the context is a shade different, the principle remains the same. The Thunder have ponied up this offseason after a championship run. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren all received contract extensions this offseason. But so did Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell. "Everybody on a championship team gets an opportunity and gets paid. I think convincing the team that's how it was going to be," Caruso said. "It was unique too, with such young guys that all have big aspirations and goals and ambitions in the league. Really impressive, honestly." If you play winning basketball, that will always help a player get paid. That wasn't the primary motivation to win a championship. That's an accomplishment in itself. But it's still a nice bonus to accomplish something every fanbase hopes to see at least once in their lifetime.
USA Today
10-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Thunder sign Jalen Williams to 5-year, $287 million contract extension
A week after an NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder have smashed open a championship window that won't close for a while. They have reportedly signed Jalen Williams to a five-year, $287 million contract extension, per ESPN's Shams Charania. After his third season, Williams was eligible for an extension. His rookie deal expires after next season with a $6.6 million salary. He was the No. 12 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. The 24-year-old has ascended into one of the NBA's best players and proved to be a good enough second option for a title winner. Williams averaged 21.6 points on 48.4% shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists this past season. He earned his first All-Star and All-NBA nods. The Thunder went on to have one of the greatest seasons ever with a historic 68-14 record and a Larry O'Brien trophy. The Thunder have locked down their trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Chet Holmgren to long-term deals this summer. Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 supermax extension earlier this offseason. Holmgren recently signed a five-year, $250 million extension. Expect OKC to be in the title conversation for the foreseeable future.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Thunder sign Chet Holmgren to 5-year, $250 million contract extension
A week after an NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder have smashed open a championship window that won't close for a while. They have reportedly signed Chet Holmgren to a five-year, $250 million contract extension, per ESPN's Shams Charania. After his third season, Holmgren was eligible for an extension. His rookie deal expires after next season with a $13.7 million salary. He was the No. 2 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. The 23-year-old has ascended into one of the NBA's best defenders and proved to be a good enough third option for a title winner. Holmgren averaged 15 points on 49% shooting, eight rebounds, two assists and 2.2 blocks this past season. He was off to an amazing start before a hip fracture cost him three months. After he returned, the seven-footer played better the deeper the Thunder went into the playoffs. He played a key role in OKC's championship. The Thunder went on to have one of the greatest seasons ever with a historic 68-14 record and a Larry O'Brien trophy. Holmgren was the face of one of the greatest defenses the NBA has ever seen. The Thunder will get a chance to lock down their trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren to long-term deals this summer. They've done so already with two-thirds of those players. Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million supermax extension earlier this offseason. Expect OKC to be in the title conversation for the foreseeable future.
