Latest news with #OKCThunder
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulls guard ranked among top remaining NBA free agents
Now a few weeks removed from the start of free agency, the dust has settled following an endless flurry of signings across the league. While things have drastically slowed down, there are still some interesting names on the market. Primarily when it comes to restricted free agency. Last offseason, the Chicago Bulls pulled off a trade with the OKC Thunder for Alex Caruso. In exchange for the veteran guard, they nabbed a former lottery pick in Josh Giddey. The dynamic playmaker didn't get to fully showcase his talents on a loaded Thunder roster, but the rebuilding Bulls could give him an opportunity to display his abilities in a featured role. Heading into what could be a contract year, Giddey had a lot riding on performing well in his new situation. He continued to show what an effective all-around talent he could be, averaging 14.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 7.2 APG. Since free agency got underway, Giddey has tried to work out a new deal to keep him in Chicago long-term. However, the two sides have been able to come to terms on an agreement. On top of this, no opposing team has decided to sign the former No. 6 pick to an offer sheet. As a near triple-double threat on a nightly basis, Giddey is a promising young talent at the point guard position. With most of the market dried up, the people at HoopsHype ranked him as the best available free agent. Great playmaker with very good and creative vision. Good rebounder for his position, too. Not the most efficient scorer, though, including with his jumper and around the basket. Makes an off-ball impact on defense, too. Absolutely exploded in the second half of the season for Chicago, which will undoubtedly help his free-agent outlook this summer. The Bulls could be waiting for the market to dictate Giddey's value due to the fact that they can match any offer sheet he signs. This has worked out well for them, as no suitor has come willing to pay top dollar for his services. In the event that Giddey and the Bulls can't work out a new deal, he'll have to play out next year under his qualifying offer before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jalen Williams Says He Tried Alcohol For The First Time After OKC Thunder Won 2025 Title
Jalen Williams Says He Tried Alcohol For The First Time After OKC Thunder Won 2025 Title originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Oklahoma City Thunder's 2025 NBA Championship celebration came with an unexpected twist: Jalen Williams, one of the team's breakout stars, revealed he had his first alcoholic drink moments after the Game 7 victory. And according to Williams, the entire moment was 'a blur.' 'Actually just had my first drink, so I'm like working on that,' Williams admitted in a postgame interview, visibly amused but still clearly processing the magnitude of the night. The Thunder had just secured a historic 103–91 win over the Indiana Pacers to capture the franchise's first NBA title since relocating to Oklahoma City. But if you were expecting wild champagne showers and popping bottles in the locker room like a typical NBA champion, think again. 'That was the most tempered locker room I've seen after any championship,' wrote Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. There wasn't the over-the-top chaos you might associate with a team full of veterans. Instead, there was laughter, awkward beer sipping, and a team of twenty-somethings trying to figure out how to act like champions while still being barely old enough to rent a car. Williams' teammate Jaylin Williams, no relation, also sampled beer for the first time—and immediately made a face that went viral online. 'Where's the tequila?' he asked moments later, realizing beer might not be his beverage of choice. What makes this story even funnier is how young the Thunder truly are. With an average age of 25.6, they're the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a title—only the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers were younger. The core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Cason Wallace has proven they're not just rising stars, they're champions. Jalen Williams, in particular, had a standout postseason. He played 22 games in the Thunder's run to the title, averaging 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals while shooting 45.5% from the field. During the regular season, he averaged nearly identical numbers and was selected to his first NBA All-Star team. At just 23 years old, Williams became the fifth player in NBA Finals history to post 25+ points in three straight Finals games before turning 25. He wasn't just along for the ride; he was one of the engines. In Game 7, he combined with Holmgren for 38 crucial points, while Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 29 points and 12 assists. Their dominance, especially in the second half, helped OKC pull away as Indiana faltered, especially with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined. But despite the dominance, what fans will remember just as much as the box score is the Thunder's joy and honesty. A first championship celebration that didn't look like a Hollywood script, but more like a college graduation party. Some first drinks, bad beer faces, and laughter with lifelong teammates. The Thunder are champions. The kids are alright. And Jaylin Williams finally knows what a cold beer tastes story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thunder exits NBA Summer League with 'a lot of positives' after semifinal loss vs Hornets
Everyone's luck eventually runs out in Las Vegas. The OKC Thunder was looking to become the first franchise to ever win an NBA championship and then win the following Las Vegas Summer League title. But the Charlotte Hornets had other plans. OKC suffered a 109-80 loss to Charlotte in the semifinals. The Thunder, which was without Ajay Mitchell and Nikola Topić, trailed for all but 54 seconds. That marked the end of OKC's time in Las Vegas, but it can count its chips with pride. The Thunder received strong showings from players such as Mitchell and Topić, who'll compete for minutes next season, and they potentially hit the jackpot with other players such as Brooks Barnhizer and Chris Youngblood. "I thought the guys made a lot of progress throughout the time (in Las Vegas), and that's promising," OKC Summer League head coach Connor Johnson said. "There are a lot of positives to take away." OKC will now shift its focus to the 2025-26 preseason, which begins on Oct. 5 with a game against none other than Charlotte in Charleston, South Carolina. Here are four more takeaways from the game: Pre-order our new book on the Thunder's road to NBA Finals More: NBA Summer League 2025: OKC Thunder roster, schedule and everything else to know Branden Carlson showed flashes of shot creation M.J. Walker's stance, despite being open, was far from inviting. When Branden Carlson searched for a way around the Charlotte guard on the perimeter, he was met with an elbow to the rib cage. It was a clear sign to back up. So, he did. Carlson separated himself from Walker with a stepback 3-pointer, which found the bottom of the net. That marked the second straight off-the-dribble bucket for the 7-foot center midway through the first quarter. On a day when OKC was without its go-to playmakers, Mitchell and Topić, Carlson showed an ability to create for himself. The 26-year-old big man recorded 12 points and seven rebounds on 5-for-10 shooting from the field (1 for 3 from deep). Carlson impressed this summer after missing OKC's first five games due to a sprained ankle. He averaged 11.7 points, six rebounds and 2.3 assists throughout three contests on 56.7% shooting from the field (50% from deep). Carlson is set to rejoin OKC next season. He recently signed a new two-way contract. More: Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topić injury update: OKC guards won't play in Summer League playoffs Charlotte dared Brooks Barnhizer to shoot from deep As Youngblood waited to inbound the ball late in the second quarter, Barnhizer slowly crept out to the 3-point line. Barnhizer wasn't followed by a defender, but that was by design. The Hornets, who'd swarmed the Thunder all game on defense, deemed other threats to be a bigger priority. Barnhizer gathered a pass at the top of the arc, and he had plenty of space to let it fly. The ball clanked off the left side of the rim. Barnhizer shined this summer as a strong defender, an aggressive rebounder and a good finisher who can absorb contract. But his 3-point shooting remains a work in progress, which is why Charlotte dared him to shoot throughout the game. Barnhizer finished with 10 points and three rebounds. He went 3 for 12 from the field (1 for 6 from deep). After being selected by OKC in the second round (44th overall) of the 2025 draft, Barnhizer played in all eight of his team's Summer League games. He averaged 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals on 47.7% shooting from the field (25% from deep). More: Thunder rookie Brooks Barnhizer 'grateful' to play for ex-teammate in NBA Summer League Chris Youngblood completed his compelling Summer League run Thomas & Mack Center was silent. Its seats, which were filled at the start of Summer League, were now mostly empty. Some fans had gone back home. Others had better plans for a Saturday night in Las Vegas than to watch a blowout game. But even with the air taken out of the venue, OKC received a brief spark midway through the third quarter. It came from its top flamethrower, Youngblood, who drilled a pair of 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. That wasn't enough to turn things around for OKC, which was still eliminated from the playoffs. But it was the final set of fireworks from Youngblood, who delivered a dazzling display of 3-point shooting this summer. After not getting selected in the 2025 draft, Youngblood made the most of his opportunity in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. He averaged 11 points throughout eight games on 46.5% shooting from deep. Youngblood has made a compelling case to earn OKC's third and final two-way contract. The other two spots have gone to Carlson and Barnhizer. More: OKC Thunder signing Ajay Mitchell to three-year contract worth nearly $9M, per report Erik Reynolds II made his minutes count down the stretch The second half of Saturday's blowout game might not have meant much to most people, but it meant something to Erik Reynolds II. OKC's backup guard scored all 16 of his points in the final two quarters. He went 5 for 12 from the field (5 for 11 from deep). After spending all four seasons of his college career at Saint Joseph's, Reynolds didn't get selected in the 2025 draft. He then joined OKC for Summer League but struggled to see the floor. Reynolds entered Saturday's contest with an average of 6.8 minutes played through six games, and he didn't play in another game. But he logged 21 minutes against Charlotte and used that valuable time to showcase his sharpshooting skills. It's hard to imagine Reynolds earning OKC's final two-way contract over a player such as Youngblood, who caught fire from deep throughout the entire Summer League run. But it might be worth the Thunder taking a closer look at him on its G League affiliate, the OKC Blue. More: OKC Thunder signs 2025 NBA Draft picks Thomas Sorber, Brooks Barnhizer Justin Martinez covers sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@ or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder run in NBA Summer League ends in semifinals vs Hornets
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC reveals design for its $1 billion new NBA arena: Here's how social media reacted
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, along with the architect behind designing the city's new $1 billion arena, unveiled conceptual images depicting a glass-encased future home for the OKC Thunder. The design of the new arena was revealed Wednesday, July 16, by architect David Manica during the 2025 State of the City address. The sold-out event was held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, just two blocks from the site where the arena will be built. The renderings shown at the State of the City show the arena's west-facing main entrance, aligned with the Myriad Gardens, will also include a long-envisioned Thunder Alley that will provide a fan activation zone designed within the arena's footprint. See the design for the new Oklahoma City NBA arena How social media reacted to OKC's new arena designs Contributing: Steve Lackmeyer This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC reveals $1 billion arena design: How social media is reacting
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC reveals design for its $1 billion new NBA arena: Here's how social media reacted
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, along with the architect behind designing the city's new $1 billion arena, unveiled conceptual images depicting a glass-encased future home for the OKC Thunder. The design of the new arena was revealed Wednesday, July 16, by architect David Manica during the 2025 State of the City address. The sold-out event was held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, just two blocks from the site where the arena will be built. The renderings shown at the State of the City show the arena's west-facing main entrance, aligned with the Myriad Gardens, will also include a long-envisioned Thunder Alley that will provide a fan activation zone designed within the arena's footprint. See the design for the new Oklahoma City NBA arena How social media reacted to OKC's new arena designs Contributing: Steve Lackmeyer This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC reveals $1 billion arena design: How social media is reacting
