Latest news with #LarryO'Brientrophy
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder Mailbag: How should Chris Paul be honored for contributions?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacation for the next couple of months before training camp starts. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Chris Paul. The 40-year-old signed with the LA Clippers this offseason, signaling he's going for a poetic end to his Hall of Fame career. While his impending retirement isn't officially known yet, at least one fan believes the Thunder should honor Paul for his contributions when that day comes. Not just for his 2019-20 season, but for his OKC Hornets years. He spent his first two seasons from 2005-07 there as the then-Hornets temporarily relocated due to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It was a test run to see if small-market OKC can support an NBA franchise. While Paul hasn't done enough to warrant his No. 3 jersey to get retired, maybe there's a nice middle ground. Even though he only spent one season on the Thunder, his contributions go beyond that. He helped mentor Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He gave OKC fans one of its most fun seasons ever, considering expectations. It was a much-needed bounce-back campaign by Paul, where he earned All-NBA honors. When Paul visits the Thunder on the road, he usually receives applause. Being part of the Thunder Legacy Network is the best answer. Every year, the Thunder invite over alumni players to be celebrated by fans for their time in OKC. They could also throw in his time on the Hornets, too. It'd be worth a shoutout. But once Paul hangs up his sneakers, he can be the headliner for a Thunder Legacy Network weekend in a future season. It's a program the Thunder have built up in recent years. The future Hall-of-Famer is always fond of his short time in OKC and left on good terms, which is impressive considering the immediate aftermath of being traded for franchise legend Russell Westbrook.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Watch: Chet Holmgren posts offseason workout video
As the summer temperature rises, the NBA calendar slows down. Almost August, we've reached the driest part of the year. The league has gone on vacation. All the major offseason moves have been made, with most front offices happy with how their rosters look. The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to enjoy their NBA championship. Most of the partying has happened over the past month. With training camp two months away, they hope impressive continuity helps their chances of being a rare repeat winner next season. If Chet Holmgren can return to his pre-injury form, that'll be a huge plus. He was on his way to a likely first-time All-Star bid before he suffered a Nov. 2024 hip fracture that cost him three months. The 23-year-old figured out how to drive to the basket and create his offense. Pair that with special rim protection, and you have one of the best young centers. While Holmgren helped the Thunder win the Larry O'Brien trophy with great individual defense, you couldn't help but notice how much his scoring production dipped. His efficiency sank below the floor for a center. He couldn't buy an outside bucket. Now, with an offseason removed from his hip fracture, the Thunder hope Holmgren can return to the star trajectory he was on. The seven-footer posted on social media some of his offseason workouts. In the quick video, you can see him work on his handle and finish through contact. While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams received all the flowers for being 20-plus point scorers, Holmgren is not too far behind. Only injuries have limited his ascension. If he can have a healthy fourth season, he can show why those who doubted his contract extension were foolish to do so.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder Mailbag: Could Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic see time in G League next year?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacation for the next couple of months before training camp starts. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell. Both young guards will battle for the backup point guard spot. There's only a finite number of minutes to hand out. Could one, if not both, see time on the G League's OKC Blue next season? The answer is probably — at least for one of them. Mitchell was the rare two-way player who never played in the G League last season. Instead, he got off to a hot start and penciled his way into the rotation. Before the Thunder had a chance to send him down, toe surgery knocked him out for three months of the regular season. By the time Mitchell returned, the G League season was over. While the 23-year-old dominated the 2025 Summer League, there's still a decent chance he suits up for the Blue at least once on an assignment this upcoming year. The regular season is long enough, and Mark Daigneault frequently changes his rotations. Those two variables combined could cause Mitchell to go a couple of weeks without any real run. The best solution to that is short G League stints at home. Just for Mitchell to keep his legs warm. That's a strategy the Thunder have utilized for years. Sharing an arena and team system makes assignments and recalls as seamless as possible. Now Topic, on the other hand, seems prime to be a player who could spend plenty of time on the Blue. The 19-year-old will need time to develop — especially after being out his first year with a torn ACL. There's only so much a practice or shootaround can do for you. Live 5-on-5 reps against opponents is the best way to ensure a player learns and strengthens their weaknesses. The Thunder drafted Topic with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft, knowing he'd be a long-term project. Finally being cleared to play, part of that involves time with the Blue. It's a luxury the NBA champion is afforded because of their rich depth and not needing a rookie to contribute for them to succeed. While Mitchell looks ready to contribute right now, Topic looks like he still needs his training wheels. Which is to be expected, considering the four-year age gap between the players. The 19-year-old could benefit from spending time with the Blue and a low-pressure environment where mistakes aren't as loud as they are at the NBA stage. The Thunder are known as one of the NBA's best developmental programs. The Blue has played a large part in that. They've squeezed every drop of juice out of their G League affiliate and have turned it into a true farm system akin to baseball. Topic and Mitchell could be the latest players who could benefit from some time with the Blue this upcoming season. The former more than the latter.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKC Thunder mailbag: Should Chet Holmgren's playing time be monitored?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacations for the next couple of months before training camps start. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Holmgren's workload. After another injury-riddled year that saw a hip fracture limit him to 32 regular-season games, should the Thunder approach his 2025-26 season more cognizant of his minutes? That would be a tough argument to pitch to a 23-year-old who's already missed over half his time in three seasons. Since they graduated into being a contender two seasons ago, the Thunder have never been the type of organization to limit their star players' minutes. The only real example was how Alex Caruso was managed last year. And even then, he's just a 31-year-old role player who was better suited to play his brand of high-intensity basketball in the playoffs. The Thunder are the second-youngest NBA champions. They shouldn't stress over Holmgren's minutes in the regular season. Besides, he's only averaged 28.9 minutes per game in his career. That's a good range to have for the seven-footer. Expect a similar number next season. While Holmgren has missed significant time, neither of his big-time injuries should create chronic pain that needs to be monitored. The deeper the Thunder went into the playoffs, the better he looked. With an offseason under his belt, any rust concerns from his Nov. 2024 hip fracture should be removed. I say let's play the season out. Holmgren should be treated like any other 23-year-old. Obviously, if he has any lingering injuries, you must keep an eye on them and see if sitting out the occasional game will be worth it. That's a luxury afforded to OKC's entire roster, considering how deep it is. But there's zero reason to map out a plan to have him keep his regular-season workload limited with an arbitrary number.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lu Dort vouches for Montreal to have an NBA expansion team
As the calendar nears August, the NBA has hit its driest part of the year. The offseason is mostly settled. Teams head to vacation for the last two months before they get back on the grind for the 2025-26 season. After winning the NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder will enter next season as the favorite to repeat. But before they can do that, players are scattered throughout the globe. It's that time of the year when everybody heads back home and relaxes a little. For Lu Dort, that means going back to Montreal, Québec, Canada. He played a key role in the Thunder's championship run. He was tasked to defend the opposition's best scorers. He also stepped up on the other end as he shot 34.3% from 3 on 6.1 attempts in the playoffs. When you win the Larry O'Brien trophy, you get the entire summer to flex your bragging rights. In Dort's case, that means showing how he could be the perfect 3-and-D starter on an NBA champion. After going undrafted in 2019, he's had one of OKC's better developmental success stories into one of the top defenders. Now that Dort is back home in Montreal, he's had a chance to reflect on the Thunder's championship journey. He also pushed the agenda that his home city is good enough to have its own NBA franchise. The 26-year-old has never been shy about his roots. As NBA Commissioner Adam Silver poured cold water over expansion talks at the Summer League, Dort recently campaigned that Montreal is capable of having an NBA franchise. You always hear about Seattle and Las Vegas. Rarely about Montreal. The Toronto Raptors are Canada's sole NBA team. "I would say the talent and the audience definitely. I think there's a lot of people in Montreal that loves basketball. Talent, we have so many kids from Montreal that plays in high school now. That plays in college. A lot of them in the NBA as well," Dort said. "I really think it's possible. I'll see if it happens one day. I'll see if I'll be involved in that one day. It's to see but I feel like it could definitely feel like it could happen one day." Of course, Montreal has hosted NBA games before. They hosted the Thunder and Dort in a 2023-24 preseason game against the Detroit Pistons. There was an appetite for NBA basketball back then that's only grown over time. Dort has done his part to make that known. "I'm telling them like, 'Guys, Montreal is a nice city and I'm pretty sure the NBA would love to have a team there,'" Dort said. "Sometimes, whenever I get the chance to speak on it, I'll do it." Considering Silver slowed down the talks of an NBA expansion, it'll be a while before Montreal can place its bid. That said, he didn't rule it out. It's been the talk around the league for a decade. While everybody else around the sport is ready to add a couple of more teams, the NBA itself might not be.
