April 30, 2026, 7:00 p.m. CT
The first time always gets you. The Oklahoma City Thunder have honed one of the best NBA playoff atmospheres over the years. I know every fanbase might feel that way about themselves, but there’s a reason why Paycom Center is universally viewed as one of the more daunting crowds to play in front of at this time of the year.
As the only pro sports team, the Thunder are all that OKC folks have. No other alternatives to go to — professionally speaking, at least. That’s why when they’re on national TV, you see a sea of blue-and-white shirts. Most people — save a few contrarians — instantly put on their playoff shirt as soon as they find their seat.
In their third NBA playoff journey as the first seed, the Thunder should be kinda used to it by now. After all, they’ve played nearly three dozen worth of postseason games in the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander era. Carrying over a nearly identical roster in all three trips, most players know what to expect.
This year, the one exception is Jared McCain. The Thunder added the 22-year-old in a buy-low move at the NBA trade deadline. So far, the pickup has been stellar. He’s had his best stretch since before he tore his meniscus in his rookie year.
In OKC’s Round 1 sweep of the Phoenix Suns, McCain had a moment in Game 3. Helping make up for Jalen Williams’ absence, he had seven points and four rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench en route to a double-digit win. Before the playoff series shifted to Arizona, though, he had his first taste of OKC’s playoff atmosphere. Let’s just say he came out impressed by the environment.
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“Crazy. There’s nothing like it. It exceeded my expectations,” McCain said. “When we were waiting to run out of the hallway and hear the music and the crowd and the little clappers, it was just amazing.”
McCain will get the rest of the 2026 NBA playoffs to get used to that atmosphere. The Thunder await their Round 2 opponent. Regardless of who it is, they will either host the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets to kick off the playoff series. Those are the perks of putting up a dominant 64-18 regular-season record.
On their way to an NBA championship last season, the Thunder relied on their home gym for their secret superpower. They were a win machine at Paycom Center — save for a couple of unreal game-winners by Aaron Gordon and Tyrese Haliburton. In the game’s highest stakes, it must be nice to know in the back of your mind, you’ll at least be in the comfort of your own home.