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OKC retired successful afloat unit to observe Thunder's rubric (1:45)
Jaylin Williams' spirited code is among the highlights astatine the Oklahoma City Thunder rubric parade. (1:45)
Field Level Media
Jun 24, 2025, 03:47 PM ET
A shirtless Shai Gilgeous-Alexander toted the NBA Finals MVP trophy down a parade interval Tuesday, raising his near manus to the bushed of chants of "MVP, MVP" from the assemblage arsenic Oklahoma City turned retired successful temperatures approaching triple-digits to observe the Thunder's archetypal championship.
Alexander, who began the time successful a achromatic vessel with his Canadian emblem garment tied astir his waist, carried the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy to the barricade truthful fans could interaction the hardware.
Accounting for humidity, the vigor scale astatine the highest of the parade was 101 degrees according to AccuWeather. Thick aerial didn't dilatory down the enactment for the Thunder oregon thousands of fans assembled for a solemnisation that started successful Midtown connected Tuesday morning.
Defensive stopper Lu Dort and 7-footer Chet Holmgren showered attendees with champagne, archetypal from the 2nd level of the team's double-decker autobus and aboriginal from the apical of a play cart.
"It's precise blistery retired here, truthful I'm going to support this abbreviated and sweet," Jalen Williams said. "Without this, nary of this is imaginable without you guys. You guys person been done the ups and downs of the Thunder organization. We admit you guys. We emotion you guys."
Isaiah Hartenstein said helium hadn't slept for 36 hours, dissimilar his young son, who was accelerated dormant successful his father's arms successful the contiguous aftermath of the team's Game 7 triumph implicit the Indiana Pacers connected Sunday.
"It's amazing. To acquisition it with the family, with the community, it's been truly special," Hartenstein said.
The solemnisation included a signifier for the closing ceremonial astatine Scissortail Park. Thunder fans packed adjacent to the signifier and again Gilgeous-Alexander entered the crowd, bringing the trophy done throngs of supporters for pictures and an up-close accidental with the NBA's title prize.
Aaron Wiggins ignited the assemblage with a little code that touched connected humble beginnings arsenic the 55th prime to a franchise that won 24 games during his rookie season.
"There was a constituent wherever they tried to telephone america the achromatic spread of the NBA," Wiggins said. "But 4 years later, erstwhile they notation the Thunder enactment erstwhile they notation (owner) Clay Bennett, (general manager) Sam Presti, (head coach) Mark Daigneault and each azygous 1 of you successful this arena, they've got to notation you arsenic NBA champs. And that's it!"
