It's become an embarrassment of riches for Thunder, fans
OKLAHOMA CITY — As the first players’ bus after so many others without them — how many people work for the Thunder, anyway? — began its left turn down Oklahoma City Boulevard toward Scissortail Park, something odd appeared to occur.
It stopped.
The tall men’s faces were not easy to make out for a longtime sportswriter standing 75 feet away dumbly wearing the computer glasses he’d had one when his wife decided they’d be going to the parade.
Easier to make out was the big shiny thing one of them walked out holding.
The Larry O’Brien Trophy, given annually to basketball’s world champion, was, as the Doobie Brothers paraphrased, taken to the streets.
As pictures and video later confirmed, having also happened moments earlier, it was not so odd at all. But it was no less special.
What seemed like every player departed their wheels to make what must be the state’s largest ever civic celebration entirely unique, too.
From a shirtless Alex Caruso, who may have been the most excited player of all; to league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, clad in, among other garments, a Canadian flag; to Jalen Williams, who’d already told the world he’d imbibed his first real drink during Sunday night’s locker room celebration, presumably after 30-something Caruso offered champagne cork removal lessons.
Just as the Thunder had spent the season playing for each other more than themselves, exemplifying the camaraderie we all wish we had in our lives if we could just get over ourselves, here was their way of thanking the NBA’s best fans, up close and personally.
It was something.
Police lined the parade route inside the barricades, but it was the Thunder themselves who crossed the police line to slap hands, take pictures or offer a very famous trophy to be rubbed.
They are young men making fortunes to play a game and still their Tuesday morning performance is not part of their social contract.
They’re just special.
OKC’s and the Thunder’s cup runneth over.
• • •
Tonight, if you can believe it, is the NBA draft.
Coverage begins on ESPN at 6 p.m. and the next wave of players begin being selected at 7, which you can watch on plain old ABC if you don’t have ESPN.
The Thunder, still awash with draft picks earned in the aftermath of Paul George telling management he’d really like to join Kawhi Leonard with the Clippers six years ago, have both the 15th and 24th picks in the first round.
In the 2026 draft, they’re scheduled to have their own first-round pick, as well as Philadelphia’s provided it’s not among the first four, as well as Utah’s provided it’s not among the first eight.
In 2027, they’re scheduled to have their own first-round pick unless they’d rather have the Clippers’, as well as Denver’s, provided it’s not among the first five.
There are five free agents on the Thunder roster, but not really.
Jaylin Williams and Ajay Mitchell become free agents only if the Thunder choose to let them go. Branden Carlson, Alex Lucas and Adam Flagler — who? — are restricted free agents, meaning the Thunder can match any offer.
Following the 2025-2026 season, the team will have options on Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams and the right to match offers to Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Ousmane Dieng.
Money could make it dicey, but the Thunder are predestined to lose nobody.
Before spending their picks tonight, perhaps they’ll simply trade them for future picks, because who might they find better than the first 8, 9 or 10 in their rotation now?
As soon as their championship was put to bed Sunday, the Thunder became the +220 favorite to win it all again next year. That is, bet $100 to win $220.
The Cavaliers are next at +700, the Knicks are +750 and the Rockets are +850.
OKC and the Thunder’s cup runneth over.
• • •
Prior to the parade, inside Paycom Center, where a packed crowd greeted the Thunder to begin the day, Aaron Wiggins, once a second-round pick and now a 12-point per game, four-year, off-the-bench contributor, had a message.
He explained, as a preface to his real point, the team won just 24 games his rookie year.
“The same people in this arena today celebrating this championship were the same people [here] when we were winning 24 games,” he said. “[There] was a point where they tried to call us ‘the black hole of the NBA.’
“But four years later, when they mention the Thunder organization, when they mention Clay Bennett, when they mention Sam Presti, when they mention Mark Daigneault and every single one of you in this arena, they’ve got to mention you as NBA champs.”
It’s easy to find and you should watch it because the love affair with this team goes both ways, is entirely uncommon and there’s no good reason it won’t continue, another championship, or two, three or four, included.
OKC and the Thunder’s cup runneth over.