Our favorite moments from OKC Thunder journey to first NBA championship

That 17-year dream was reality at last.

The ambitions of Sam Presti, materialized into so many eras and at least two contenders over the course of the Thunder’s existence. The coronation of an MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the vindication of young stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

They’d been lauded as preseason contenders. But along the way, their greatness garnered asterisks.

OKC’s defense held all-time efficiency — but surely it couldn’t replicate it in the playoffs with different officiating. Surely SGA’s scoring would eventually slow. Surely Jalen Williams couldn’t dissect postseason defenses. Surely OKC’s depth would dry up against the playoff heat.

Wrong.

The Thunder was never too inexperienced after all. It was who it thought it was.

Here are some more of the best moments from the Thunder’s run to the NBA title:

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Thunder’s championship parade

It’s difficult to hide joy.

See Jaylin Williams’ cheek bones, likely more sore than his body after cheesing through the Thunder’s celebratory parade. See Jalen Williams, bubbly behind his newfound intrigue in alcohol. See Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who paraded through Oklahoma City’s downtown shirtless, feeling the warmth of a king.

They took shots. They brought joyous children to tears. They embraced fans galore. They hoisted that 30-pound piece of gold in a city that’d long salivated over it.

The buses, the chants, the crowd, the fiery speeches, the endless smiles. The sun beamed on a city that couldn’t be told anything. OKC belonged.

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SGA’s first 50-point game

If ever there were any remaining doubts about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring supremacy — the single-game heights he could reach, his ability to put up gaudy point totals — he stomped them out that night.

This midrange-loving hitman crossed an illustrious feat off his list: dropping 50. On that January night versus the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City needed every one of his 54 points.

With each bucket down the stretch, the Paycom Center crowd seemingly hyperventilated. Not because the Jazz was actively pushing the Thunder to the brink, but because it wanted to see if SGA could check off his lone remaining box as Earth’s most consistent scorer.

He then proceeded to score at least 50 three more times in the next couple months.

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OKC routes Boston in January statement

Entering the season, Boston and OKC were the respective favorites in each conference, and their first matchup in January had long been circled on calendars.

The stage was set for what many considered a Finals preview. Kristaps Porzingis was back in the lineup, marking the Celtics’ rotation complete. The Thunder had won 14 consecutive games. This was its biggest test to date.

OKC’s signature second half, button-pushing streak of terror was honed that night.

It held Jaylen Brown scoreless in the second half. SGA pinned Jayson Tatum’s shot on the glass, then lobbing it to Isaiah Hartenstein for an and-one that shattered eardrums.

OKC told the world then that anyone could get it.

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Lu Dort’s barrage of 3s the difference in Game 5 vs Denver

All hail the moon ball, the deadliest tool in Big Game Lu Dort’s weapon wheel.

It peaked — in height and magnitude — in Game 5 of the West semifinals, when Oklahoma City trailed entering the fourth quarter. For the couple months leading to that period, Dort’s 3-point shooting had been shaky, particularly on the road. But if the moon was ever to shine, it was in that OKC sky.

He hit three 3s in the fourth alone, with back-to-back makes serving as a backbreaker in a quarter where the Thunder badly needed some semblance of offense.

He was benched down the stretch of Game 4. Dort saved the Thunder’s season in Game 5.

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Chet Holmgren (left) and Luguentz Dort (center) celebrate after the Thunder beat the Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center on June 22.

Big Three outlasts Minnesota in Game 4 win

Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and SGA had collective flashes during their first regular season together. They were robbed of more opportunities once Holmgren went down with a season-altering injury earlier this year.

But never, never, had they synchronized quite like they did in Game 4 in Minnesota. Gilgeous-Alexander’s shotmaking and touch. Williams’ force and fire. Holmgren’s denials at the basket and rim running.

They morphed like Megazord that night. A three-headed snake that hissed at Minnesota’s late-game confidence. The Timberwolves’ shotmaking had been video-game-like leading into that fourth quarter.

Holmgren erased significant shots. Williams played one of the greatest offensive games of his career. SGA did SGA things. They improbably wiped out the Wolves despite their A+ effort.

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Thunder pushes back versus Rockets during NBA Cup

This youthful OKC core had been described plenty of ways — too young, too jovial, too exuberant, too inexperienced. Never had it been painted as cowardly. Nor had it truly been tried as such.

But the Houston Rockets were fueled by punking teams, by checking their temperature. This Thunder crew, smiling but never pushed over, didn’t flinch.

Between Nov. 20 and Jan. 16, the Thunder suffered just two losses: a national TV nail biter in Cleveland and a one-possession game in Houston. SGA and Dillon Brooks got tangled up in the closing moments of that loss.

Naturally, when it became clear that the Thunder would successfully take licks in a win that advanced its Las Vegas trip, tension boiled over. Alperen Sengun and Cason Wallace bucked at each other, and Wallace — giving up roughly half a foot — didn’t back down. Isaiah Hartenstein, a proud teammate, pledged he’d pay a fine that never came.

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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander speaks during a press conference in Oklahoma City after winning the 2025 NBA MVP award on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

SGA’s MVP speech

Fans saw a version of SGA never seen.

Emotional, choked up by tears. Expressive about his wife, Hailey, and his son, Ares. This was Gilgeous-Alexander, raw and uncut, after what was the biggest accomplishment of his life to that point.

Gilgeous-Alexander dethroned Nikola Jokic to become the Thunder’s first MVP since Russell Westbrook, its third in nine years. The kid from Hamilton, Ontario, who was cut from his junior varsity team. The rookie who was an afterthought in the Paul George trade. Not even general manager Sam Presti predicted Gilgeous-Alexander would run the league like this.

The boy became the man that day.

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Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Joel’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Our favorite moments from OKC Thunder journey to its first NBA title

Our favorite moments from OKC Thunder journey to first NBA championship

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