Oklahoma City Thunder fans to celebrate NBA title with a parade after years of heartbreak
Oklahoma City 's unwavering fans finally get to celebrate a championship after suffering through several close calls and heartbreaking moments the past two decades.
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers on Sunday to clinch the NBA title, and the city will hold a parade on Tuesday morning to honor its first major professional championship. Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams and their teammates will pass through downtown for an event that is scheduled to last 90 minutes.
Oklahoma City first hosted an NBA team during the 2005-06 season, when the New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated after Hurricane Katrina. Oklahoma City's fans fell in love with the team and a young point guard named Chris Paul who would be named rookie of the year.
The Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in time for the 2008-09 season, and fans feverishly supported the team, despite its early struggles. The Thunder became contenders with young stars Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Even with all that talent, they couldn't break through. They lost to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals in 2012, and Harden left for Houston. A possible run in 2013 was derailed when Westbrook was injured during the playoffs. The 2015-16 team led the Golden State Warriors 3-1 in the Western Conference finals before losing the series in seven games.
Durant left to join the Warriors after that season, ending that version of the Thunder. Westbrook was the league MVP in 2017 and averaged a triple-double for three straight seasons, but the Thunder never got out of the first round those years.
But with its new set of superstars, finally, Oklahoma City has its moment.
___
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Caitlin Clark's teammate DeWanna Bonner 'has no interest' in playing for Indiana Fever again and wants a trade
The Indiana Fever roster looks set for a reshuffle after it emerged that DeWanna Bonner is desperate for a trade away from the team. Bonner was only signed by the team in February on a one-year deal - at the time, it seemed a smart move to put Caitlin Clark with the two-time WNBA champion as the Fever tried to build on her stunning rookie year. But so far, the Fever are yet to hit top form and are 6-7 before Tuesday night's game against Seattle Storm. They have not been helped by Clark missing two weeks with a thigh issue. But hours before Clark and her team hit the court on the west coast, Front Office Sports claimed Bonner 'has no interest' in playing for the Fever again after being ruled out of first-team action for personal reasons. She started the first three games and then was benched in favor of Lexie Hull before the team said that issues away from the court had ruled her out. As per FoS, Bonner would favor a trade to either Atlanta Dream or the Phoenix Mercury.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Grant Hill joining NBC coverage of 2025-26 NBA season
June 24 - The return of NBA coverage on NBC will have a familiar face for the 2025-26 season as Hall of Famer Grant Hill will join the desk as a game analyst. Hill, 52, will continue to serve in his role as a college basketball analyst with TNT Sports for the NCAA Tournament as well as for the network's coverage of Big East and Big 12 basketball. "The NBA has been such a meaningful part of my life, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing the game I love with fans across the country," Hill said in a statement. "To be part of NBC's return to the NBA -- a network with such a rich basketball legacy -- and its debut on Peacock is truly an honor. I can't wait to get started this fall." Sam Flood, executive producer for NBC Sports, described Hill's pedigree as "unparalleled," emphasizing that Hill "will be a tremendous asset to our coverage." "He's an accomplished broadcaster," Flood added, "whose basketball IQ, insight and intellect will continue to resonate with NBA fans across the country." The 1995 Co-Rookie of the Year and a seven-time All-Star, Hill played 18 seasons in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 Olympics and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. Hill joined the broadcasting side of the game after retiring in 2013 and also assumed the role of USA Basketball's managing director, with Hill building a roster that won gold at the 2024 Olympics. The NBA last summer agreed to an 11-year media rights deal with NBC/Peacock, ABC/ESPN and Amazon Prime Video that begins with the 2025-26 season. --Field Level Media
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce blows NFL fans away as a coach at 'Tight End University' after Taylor Swift joined him in Nashville
Travis Kelce got down to work on Tuesday afternoon at his 'Tight End University' in Nashville and quickly showed that if he wants a coaching career after his playing days are done, he'd be a big success. Kelce, 35, is hosting the three-day camp alongside two other iconic tight ends in George Kittle and Greg Olsen - an event they have run since 2021. The three-time Super Bowl winner was filmed Tuesday giving his attendees precious insight over his running technique for certain routes - and NFL fans in Chiefs Kingdom and beyond were impressed by how Kelce got his message across. 'Us big guys, it's so hard for us to throw one foot in the ground going at 75% speed in a route to get out there,' the 6ft 5 Kelce was filmed explaining. 'We want to use two steps, and sometimes it takes three on the 15, 20-yard routes if you are luck enough to run them. But for me, getting in and out of a break, you have to slow that momentum down and really gather that power before you can explode out.' He continued: 'I'm gonna make sure that I get to a balanced, powerful position. That instep is typically going in the direction that I want to go. Don't always want to understep, I do that a lot unfortunately, but if I get to choose what I'm doing I am going in at a powerful position. 'That means that if a defender is on me, I am still strong getting out of that thing. I can gain separation. And it is hard to gain seapration if you don't go in at a controlled pace. 'So really work and find that shoulder-over-toe and you can really get in and out of there precise, with a purposeful and powerful foundation.' The clip sparked a huge response from NFL fans. The popular site 'Daily Chiefs' reposed the clip and captioned it: 'There's just something special about watching the greatest do what they do — and then break it down for the rest of us. 'I could listen to Travis Kelce talk about playing tight end forever! Mesmerizing stuff.' Another fan wrote: 'I really hope he decides to go into coaching. I think he would be fantastic at it.' James Palmer, an NFL reporter for Bleacher Report, commented on the video on Instagram saying: This is so damn good. I've talked to a number of safeties over the years that have all said, Kelce is never moving that fast or even running 100% all that often. 'He'll never run by you, but staying with him is impossible because every step has a purpose and the change of pace with each step or break keeps you so off balance in coverage. This is a master class right here.' A different comment, however, suggested that one of the reasons behind Kelce's success with the Chiefs is that his natural talent is so high. Kelce was back in camp for the Kansas City Chiefs last week ahead of the 2025 campaign 'It is interesting the idea of learning from 87,' Steven David II wrote on X. 'I'd argue what makes him one of the best TEs ever can't really be taught/learned. At least not in a week-long camp.' Kelce's time out on the field comes after he and girlfriend Taylor Swift stole the show on the welcoming night on Monday evening. Swift made a surprise appearance at a glitzy Nashville cocktail bar as Kelce, Olsen and Kittle welcomed their guests to Tennessee. Kelce will inevitably have an eye on life after playing - he nearly retired back in February when the Chiefs were blown away in the Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles. He decided to play on because he didn't want to end his career on such a low point. As it stands, he has one year remaining on his current Chiefs deal. Kansas City and Kelce start the 2025 campaign in Brazil on September 5 against Los Angeles Chargers.
