Latest news with #SuperSonics
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gary Payton admits Bird was the only one who made him think twice about talking trash: "I didn't get discouraged by MJ, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller"
Gary Payton admits Bird was the only one who made him think twice about talking trash: "I didn't get discouraged by MJ, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Gary Payton was tireless both in his defense and with his mouth. He was verbal and could rattle opponents' rhythm with a hand on their chest and throw off their confidence with a word in their ear. Night after night, he brought that Oakland spirit and kinetic fire to the floor, never backing down, never letting up. Advertisement Yet for all the noise he dished out over a 17-year Hall of Fame career, there was one name that brought a pause to the barking. Bird is next level Payton, for all his trash-talking, also got his fair share dished out to him. He faced a lot of trash talkers in his time, but one man gave him a run for his money. It was Larry Bird. "I didn't get discouraged by Michael Jordan, I didn't get discouraged by Reggie Miller," Payton said. "I thought they were great trash talkers, but if [there was] anyone that gave me some good lines and would come back and can back it up and hit a jump shot in your mouth, it was Larry Bird." Payton came into the league in 1990, a sharp-tongued point guard drafted second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. By then, Bird was already a legend, three-time MVP, three-time NBA champion and the cerebral anchor of the '80s Celtics dynasty. But even in the twilight of his career, Bird commanded respect. Advertisement Payton, whose trash-talking résumé was nearly as decorated as his defensive accolades, quickly learned that the Boston icon was fluent in the very language he thought he'd mastered. Bird didn't just talk. He spat back. He'd tell opponents how he'd score, where he'd shoot from and when it was coming and then he'd go do exactly that, calmly walking back down the court without a smile or smirk. What made Bird different wasn't just the bite in his delivery; it was the precision in his execution. The man didn't need theatrics. His mouth worked like his jumper, smooth, calculated and darn near automatic. Payton, who averaged over 20 points and seven assists across seven straight seasons in the '90s, was the kind of player who made his living off disrupting confidence. But Bird was the kind of player whose confidence didn't crack. His lines were dry but devastating and his game was simple but surgical. Advertisement Even with a bad back and slowing legs, Bird still had that ghostly calm. Related: "We gave them a champion, and we didn't get Zion?" - Arenas isn't pleased with the Wizards' giving away Jordan Poole Legendary trash talker Bird's power came from his presence. And for a talker like Payton, it wasn't just about the words you threw; it was whether they could land. Apparently, the three-time MVP had the last word far too often. "I think Larry Bird was pretty good," Payton said. In the history of the NBA, the greatest trash talkers form a sort of underground lineage. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell had their duels. Michael Jordan turned it into an art form. Reggie Miller weaponized it against crowds as much as players. Advertisement But Bird had a stoic, brutal efficiency. Payton, who retired in 2007 as the only point guard to win Defensive Player of the Year in over two decades, made a career out of taking away comfort. But Bird was never bothered. He wasn't louder. He was smarter. He had already read the script and chosen his shot. Bird's career numbers back up his trash-talking. He scored over 24,000 career points and earned 12 NBA All-Star nods. But it's not just the numbers. It's the mythos. The memory. The fact that even the loudest man in the league knew when he was talking to someone who didn't need to yell. Related: Seattle had to assign a player to drag Gary Payton to practice: "I'd challenge him and talk trash to him to get him going" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neil Nitin Mukesh pens adorable birthday wish for his 'guiding light' Nitin Mukesh
Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh penned an adorable birthday note for his father and veteran singer Nitin Mukesh. Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh penned an adorable birthday note for his father and veteran singer Nitin Mukesh. On Friday, Neil posted a beautiful picture of his parents on Instagram and wrote a heartfelt birthday wish. Calling Nitin 'guiding light, mentor and God', he wrote, "Happy 75th Birthday, PAA @nitinmukesh9. Today is your special day, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and love for everything you've done for me. You are the most selfless human being I know. You're not just my father; you're my guiding light, my mentor, and my God. Your wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support have shaped me into the person I am today. " "I'm so grateful for the values you've instilled in me, for the sacrifices you've made for our family, and for being a constant source of strength and inspiration. You're the best father in the world, and I feel blessed to have you in my life," he added. Neil concluded with a sweet words that read, "Here's to many more years of love, laughter, and adventure together! I love you more than words can express. Happy 75th Birthday, PAA." Sophie Chaudhry reacted to the post and commented, "Biggest hug and happy bday uncle." Meanwhile, on the work front, Neil was last seen in the musical drama 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate'. Directed by Abhishek Sharma , Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate is led by Jacqueline Fernandez as Pearl and Neil Nitin Mukesh as Gagan, alongside Sumedh Mudgalkar, Siddharth Nigam, Yukti Thareja, Aryan Katoch, Priyank Sharma , Kunwar Amar, Mohan Pandey, Elisha Mayor, Sanchit Kundra, Sanatana Roach, Devangshi Sen, Anusha Mani, Bhavin Bhanushali , Arnav Magoo, and Yukti Thareja in pivotal roles. Neil, who plays Gagan Ahuja, the mentor to the SuperSonics, in a press note said, Playing Gagan Ahuja was both challenging and exciting. Gagan is an intense and disciplined musical legend who holds the SuperSonics' legacy close to his heart. His journey in 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate' reflects the struggles of an artist's life, where passion and dreams are often misinterpreted as arrogance and self-obsession. " He added, "In reality, it's a journey of self-discovery and finding one's true purpose. As someone with a musical legacy, music holds a special place in my heart. The energy and talent of the cast made this project truly unforgettable. I hope the audience will share our excitement and enthusiasm for the show." 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate' is streaming on JioHotstar.
Mint
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Neil Nitin Mukesh pens adorable birthday wish for his guiding light Nitin Mukesh
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 27 (ANI): Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh penned an adorable birthday note for his father and veteran singer Nitin Mukesh. On Friday, Neil posted a beautiful picture of his parents on Instagram and wrote a heartfelt birthday wish. Calling Nitin 'guiding light, mentor and God', he wrote, "Happy 75th Birthday, PAA @nitinmukesh9. Today is your special day, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude and love for everything you've done for me. You are the most selfless human being I know. You're not just my father; you're my guiding light, my mentor, and my God. Your wisdom, kindness, and unwavering support have shaped me into the person I am today." "I'm so grateful for the values you've instilled in me, for the sacrifices you've made for our family, and for being a constant source of strength and inspiration. You're the best father in the world, and I feel blessed to have you in my life," he added. Neil concluded with a sweet words that read, "Here's to many more years of love, laughter, and adventure together! I love you more than words can express. Happy 75th Birthday, PAA." Sophie Chaudhry reacted to the post and commented, "Biggest hug and happy bday uncle." Meanwhile, on the work front, Neil was last seen in the musical drama 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate'. Directed by Abhishek Sharma, Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate is led by Jacqueline Fernandez as Pearl and Neil Nitin Mukesh as Gagan, alongside Sumedh Mudgalkar, Siddharth Nigam, Yukti Thareja, Aryan Katoch, Priyank Sharma, Kunwar Amar, Mohan Pandey, Elisha Mayor, Sanchit Kundra, Sanatana Roach, Devangshi Sen, Anusha Mani, Bhavin Bhanushali, Arnav Magoo, and Yukti Thareja in pivotal roles. Neil, who plays Gagan Ahuja, the mentor to the SuperSonics, in a press note said, Playing Gagan Ahuja was both challenging and exciting. Gagan is an intense and disciplined musical legend who holds the SuperSonics' legacy close to his heart. His journey in 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate' reflects the struggles of an artist's life, where passion and dreams are often misinterpreted as arrogance and self-obsession. " He added, "In reality, it's a journey of self-discovery and finding one's true purpose. As someone with a musical legacy, music holds a special place in my heart. The energy and talent of the cast made this project truly unforgettable. I hope the audience will share our excitement and enthusiasm for the show." 'Hai Junoon- Dream, Dare, Dominate' is streaming on JioHotstar. (ANI)
New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The long path to building a championship team
Oklahoma City wins its first championship since the team relocated from Seattle Getty Images The Oklahoma City Thunder have won the 2025 NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7. It's the first championship for the team since it relocated from Seattle in 2008, having won one title as the SuperSonics in 1979. Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton left the game during the first quarter after suffering what ESPN reported was an Achilles injury. He was carried off the floor and was very emotional. Indiana, which has never won an NBA championship, led the game by one point at halftime but was outscored 56-43 in the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP after leading all players with 29 points and 12 assists in Game 7. The Thunder shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from 3, but they forced 23 Pacers turnovers which resulted in 32 points at the other end. GO FURTHER Thunder win first NBA title since relocating to OKC, hold off Pacers in Game 7 Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms The blueprint to the Thunder's 2025 championship started in 2007 2007 - Sonics GM Sam Presti sign-and-trade Rashard Lewis to the Magic for a conditional 2nd-round pick. 2007 - Sonics trade the 2nd-round pick to the Phoenix Suns for Kurt Thomas and two first-round picks. 2008 - Sonics used the Suns' pick (No. 24) to draft Serge Ibaka ... team officially moves to OKC later that year. 2016 - Thunder trade Serge Ibaka to the Magic for Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis. 2017 - Thunder trade Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis to the Pacers for Paul George. 2019 - Thunder trade Paul George to the Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, five first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps. 2022 - Thunder use the Clippers' pick (No. 12) to draft Jalen Williams. 2025 - 🏆 Watch the video at the link below for more. Getty Images Shoutout to T.J. McConnell. Throughout the postseason, and especially in the NBA Finals, the veteran guard brought a level of intensity and effort that frankly few, if anyone, on the floor could match. Tonight, he scored 16 points in 28 minutes, including 12 straight while this game was still close in the third quarter. He certainly further endeared himself to the Pacers fans with his play this postseason. Fred Katz / The Athletic Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 'As a kid, you dream. Every kid dreams. But you don't know if those dreams are gonna come true. 'All the achievements and accolades, they don't come close to the feeling of winning with your brothers.' Getty Images Kyle P.: Well, the Pacers played hard and took it to 7 games. If they just wouldn't have blown game 4 then they wouldn't have had to play in this game and Haliburton never gets injured. Just sucks the way this game ended up turning out, but congrats to OKC. Drew H.: Pacers never gave up. What a team they had. Happy for the Thunder. Hope all Pacer fans feel super proud of their dudes. Stephen S.: These two teams were a lot closer than some of the experts want to admit. The Pacers of May-June weren't the same group that went 10-15 to being the year. Congrats OKC, what a ride from this Pacers group. Michael D.: Never going to be able to convince me the Thunder win Game 7 without the Halliburton injury. This might as well be the Lakers bubble championship. Don't forget the asterisk. Getty Images Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins an elite list of players with his Finals MVP award. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard becomes the fourth player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, scoring title and Finals MVP in the same season. Below is the list of players SGA joins: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971) Michael Jordan (1991, 1992, 1996, 1998) Shaquille O'Neal (2000) Gilgeous-Alexander is the first guard to accomplish this feat. He's a quarter of the way to MJ's four instances of winning MVP, scoring title and Finals MVP in the same season. But it once again shows that Gilgeous-Alexander put together one of the best seasons for a guard in NBA history. A message of congratulations from one of Oklahoma City's former NBA MVPs (and the newest member of the Houston Rockets)... This game could have got interesting without a critical performance from Chet Holmgren. He scored 18 points on an uber-efficient 6-of-8 shooting, grabbed eight boards and blocked five shots. Holmgren, who battled through injuries this season, was the anchor of OKC's elite defense. He proved that again tonight. In April 2022, Sam Presti's Thunder were blown out by 50 points in their season finale vs. the LA Clippers to cap a 24-58 season. Presti met with the media and said he expected the Clippers to win the championship in the near future. 'The Clippers, like I said before, I don't think we're going to be looking at that again,' Presti said of benefiting from an underwhelming Clippers seasons as it related to owed draft capital. 'I think they're going to be the odds-on favorite to probably win the title in the (near) future.' Three years later., the Thunder are champions. For a majority of the night, Oklahoma City's offense sputtered. They shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from three. As usual though, the Thunder's defense showed up for 48 minutes, forcing 23 turnover and turning those mistakes into 32 points on the other end. Oklahoma City also blocked eight shots, five of which belonging to Chet Holmgren. No, it was not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's most efficient scoring output but it was enough to win tonight and the Thunder are now NBA champions. The NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP scored 29 points on 8-of-27 shooting and had a playoff-high 12 assists in 40 minutes. He also added two blocks and a steal. Getty Images Isaac F.: Not a huge Shai fan but it's nice to see him finally show some emotion rather than the cool guy persona he's always putting on. Gerrit B.: My sympathies to Sonics fans everywhere. Frank F.: Celtics fan here: Congrats to OKC. You didn't play perfectly but you rose up when the occasion demanded it. Indy: I know it's no consolation, but your fight tonight was inspiring. Good series for the league. Erick H.: Congrats to OKC - great team and deserving champ. And hats off to the Pacers. Hell of a season and a worthy team who fate was unkind to. Wish your guy Haliburton a speedy and full recovery. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault kept it cool, calm, and concise on the podium — which felt just about right. 'I want to congratulate Indiana on a great season,' he began. 'They were a stiff opponent." 'This was a dream for everybody here at one point in our lives. There was one point where we didn't know if we were going to be in the NBA, from players to staff, the coaches… It's a privilege. We're incredibly grateful for it.' And the most special thing about this group? Daigneault's answer is swift. 'They behave like champions,' he added. 'They compete like champions. They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times, I'm gonna say it one more time: this is an uncommon team, and now they're champions.' The Chicago angle: In between Alex Caruso's NBA titles, he played for the Bulls. He now has NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images Indiana Pacers 746 Oklahoma City Thunder 765 The Thunder made 35 more free throws, had 31 fewer turnovers, three more offensive rebounds and made one more field goal overall through the seven-game series. The Sonics' sole NBA championship (1979) stayed in Seattle, legally speaking. Their banners and trophies had to stay there as part of a legal settlement between the city and Thunder owner Clay Bennett after he pulled the team out of there. So this is, by all intents and purposes, the Thunder's first title. Getty Images I'm not sure we needed more than one or two shots of Clay Bennett celebrating, to say nothing of the city that could have lived with zero. Chet Holmgren is hyped! He makes it clear that he is proud of his team and proud of himself for his resilience throughout the season. Holmgren missed 50 regular-season games after sustaining a serious injury to his pelvis early in the season. After his cameo, two-time NBA champ Alex Caruso steps to the mic as he is swarmed by his teammates. Up on that podium with all the noise and hollering and cheering, Isaiah Hartenstein is holding his small child and the kid is absolutely zonked out asleep. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Canadian NBA Finals MVP. He joined Steve Nash as a league MVP earlier this year, but Nash never won a title.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How the Thunder defeated the Pacers to win the 2025 NBA Finals: Game 7 reaction, highlights and analysis
Oklahoma City wins its first championship since the team relocated from Seattle Getty Images The Oklahoma City Thunder have won the 2025 NBA title, beating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7. It's the first championship for the team since it relocated from Seattle in 2008, having won one title as the SuperSonics in 1979. Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton left the game during the first quarter after suffering what ESPN reported was an Achilles injury. He was carried off the floor and was very emotional. Indiana, which has never won an NBA championship, led the game by one point at halftime but was outscored 56-43 in the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named Finals MVP after leading all players with 29 points and 12 assists in Game 7. The Thunder shot just 40.2 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from 3, but they forced 23 Pacers turnovers which resulted in 32 points at the other end. GO FURTHER Thunder win first NBA title since relocating to OKC, hold off Pacers in Game 7 Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms On some of these half court possessions, it seems like Oklahoma City just has no plan. Why is Cason Wallace trying to take Pascal Siakam off the dribble with 20 on the shot clock? Q2 9:55 - Thunder 29, Pacers 28 This is a nice stretch from Isaiah Hartenstein. He finds Alex Caruso cutting for a one-handed dunk and a few possessions later, he is the recipient of a nice bounce pass from Jalen Williams that gets him a layup. It is also worth noting that Tyrese Haliburton will not return to tonight's game due to a lower leg injury. Isaiah Hartenstein misses a dunk on the first trip of the second quarter, then missed two free throws on the second one. Thunder offense has low-key gone off the rails since the Tyrese Haliburton injury. Getty Images Bennedict Mathurin might need to really step up tonight for the Pacers to win. Indiana is down a playmaker and someone who can draw fouls. TJ McConnell might not work in Game 7, if the first quarter is any indication. Someone has to give the Pacers some pop, and Mathurin has that potential, even if he has been uneven this series. This is a different equation for TJ McConnell, and one that is not his strength. He will have to actually run the Indiana Pacers tonight, not just be a change of pace guy off the bench. Andrew Nembhard will see a lot of responsibility at the point guard spot as well, but there will be much more on McConnell's shoulders. I'm not in the building. I was hype for this Game 7. Anyone who has played basketball and seen a devastating injury like the one Tyrese Haliburton suffered knows how that can affect everyone. Obviously, the Pacers have to figure it out. But that can affect the Thunder as well. They're competing, but you feel that emotionally. And the energy in the building as well. It seemed like Haliburton's injury put a halt to the flow of the game. For Indiana to have any chance after Tyrese Haliburton's seemingly devastating injury, the Pacers will need a monster night from Pascal Siakam. He's capable, and he scored seven points in the first quarter. But how does Indiana get him enough open looks without the threat of Haliburton's shooting and playmaking? The Thunder had their worst turnover performance of the season in Game 6. Aside from a shot clock violation, they did not have any first-quarter turnovers in Game 7. Getty Images Life is not fair. This has been a tremendous series, one with high-level basketball essentially every night. Tyrese Haliburton was toughing out a painful injury, and he was balling. If the world were a meritocracy, he would have made it through this game with only the occasional wince and no more. That guy in that situation playing that well should not have suffered through that moment. Alas, life is not fair. I feel a tinge of emptiness watching this game now. I don't know how the Pacers are playing with this much intensity, given everything. Obviously their mentality is beyond questioning, but it's just another reminder about the resolve of this team. Not a crisp response, but they are battling. Getty Images End Q1 - Thunder 25, Pacers 22 Even without Tyrese Haliburton, you have to expect Indiana to fight for 48 minutes. That was on display over the last few minutes. Pascal Siakam has been aggressive, scoring seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, and Haliburton had nine points before his injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with eight points, followed by five points from Chet Holmgren. Meanwhile, back on the basketball court, Sean Wright was winding up to call an offensive foul on Chet Holmgren before official James Capers on the other side called a block on T.J. McConnell. Oklahoma City leaves an uneven first quarter with a 25-22 lead. Getty Images It's really tough to continue thinking about this game with Tyrese Haliburton's injury, but that is what everybody on these two teams must do. After one quarter, the Thunder have a 25-22 lead. It's worth noting, though, that they've only scored six points in the final five minutes of the quarter since Haliburton went down. The Pacers are possibly the team best built to survive this type of thing. But this is going to be an incredibly tough test in the final three quarters. The evaluation, Jared: don't play with calf injuries... If the worst about Tyrese Haliburton's injury is to come to pass, three of the last four teams in the NBA Finals will be without their best playmaker for most or all of next season: Dallas (Kyrie Irving), Boston (Jayson Tatum) and Indiana (Haliburton). Getty Images If this Tyrese Haliburton injury is what we fear, it would be the THIRD torn Achilles tendon of the season for Indiana, after losing James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to the same injury in the opening weeks of the season. Dear NBA teams... STOP ALLOWING GUYS TO PLAY ON STRAINED CALVES!!!! Please!!!! There is a responsibility to save players from themselves. NBA Finals or not, this is not worth it. Getty Images This could be the third star to injure his Achilles in this postseason run, if that is indeed what just happened to Tyrese Haliburton. This is a devastating trend for the NBA that is going to need a substantial evaluation at the league level to understand why this keeps happening. This really sucks. These are the injuries you just hate to see. We always want stars to play through injuries and give their all to the team, but this ends up happening far too often. As Law mentioned, Kevin Durant did it in the NBA Finals six years ago. In Milwaukee this postseason, I watched Damian Lillard try to play through an injury and he ended up tearing his Achilles. It's absolutely brutal to see.
