OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked onto the court with the second-biggest smile of the night, a runner-up designation only because the beaming Jaylin Williams obliterates all contenders, not to mention the afternoon sun.
A couple of minutes later, all the 2025 NBA champions having been handed their gaudy rings, Gilgeous-Alexander took the microphone and said what he always says — the right thing — thanking Oklahomans for always supporting the Thunder, back in the days when they were losing by 40 or these days when they often win by 40.
Then up went the championship banner, with 16 of the 17 rostered players from last June touching the banner, as if osmosis is part of the equation of repeating. (Adam Flagler now is with the Spurs organization.)
Quite a night, complete with Thunder-Rockets tipping off the NBA’s 80th season with a rousing, double-overtime instant classic, won 125-124 by the Thunder on Gilgeous-Alexander’s two foul shots with 2.5 seconds left.
“Surreal,” SGA said of receiving the championship ring. “I don’t know how to describe it besides that. It was super fun. Seeing the banner raised was cool, too. Knowing it will be there forever and we’re the first group to bring the city a championship is a pretty special feeling.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder poses with their championship rings in front of the 2024-2025 NBA Champions banner during Tuesday’s ceremony on opening night.
The game was special, too, with the Rockets dominating most of regulation before a late Thunder rally, then all kinds of overtime drama, during which arch-enemy Kevin Durant tried to be the goat and finally succeeded. All on a night of debuts.
The debut of NBC back in the business of broadcasting the league, after a 23-year hiatus.
The debut of arch-enemy Durant as a Rocket. The debut of a simple but profound piece of fabric, navy blue background with white trim, simply stating that the NBA champs reside here on the prairie.
“Not many things I would trade it for,” Chet Holmgren said of the 20-minute ceremony. “I’m so happy to see the success and happiness of everybody else out there. I’m happy to share that moment with them. The rings, the banner, the fact that we won, that’s forever. Nobody can take that away. That banner’s going to hang a long time in Oklahoma City. I’m happy we’re going to share that with the city.”
The game was grueling. SGA’s losing-by-40 reference seemed to be prophetic in the first half, when the Thunder was quite lethargic. All those pre-tipoff smiles, even Arkansas Williams’, were gone in a slog of a game.
Houston started a massive starting lineup: four 6-foot-11 players plus 6-7 athletic freak Amen Thompson.
Gilgeous-Alexander had five first-half points and took just five points. Chet Holmgren made his first seven shots and had 18 first-half points, else Houston might have won in a walkover. Daigneault said the Thunder allowed the Rockets to play at a slower tempo; if you’re outsized, you’ve got to play fast.
And the Thunder eventually did, leading to 21 total Rocket turnovers. OKC clawed back, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s 17-footer with two seconds left in regulation forced overtime. An SGA 18-footer was blocked at the end of the first overtime. And finally SGA’s two foul shots with 2.3 seconds left were the difference in the second overtime.
Ironically, that foul came courtesy of Durant. “I was just looking for space, to get off a comfortable shot that I’m comfortable shooting,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I turned, was about to shoot it, but I think he thought I was going to shoot as well, and he left his feet, and I saw an opportunity. I took advantage of it, and it worked in our favor.”
Durant, who mostly played a fine game, with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, grabbed the rebound on SGA’s miss at the end of the first overtime and tried to call timeout, even though the Rockets had none left. No whistle blew, the buzzer sounded and Daigneault went nuts. It clearly should have been a technical foul against the Rockets.
“Kevin definitely called timeout, about three times,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Verbally, and physically with his hands. I think the refs just missed it. You make mistakes in life, and you move on. Nothing too crazy.”
Durant blamed himself, recalling a missed foul shot in the first overtime, then fouling Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Those two plays are why we lost,” Durant said. “I gotta be better.”
Durant otherwise was his usual fantastic self. This night was supposed to be ultimate revenge game against Durant — raise a banner pregame, boo him incessantly postgame — and eventually it was. But it took all night.
Durant seemed determined to ruin a magical OKC night, to go with all those hearts he broke nine years ago by jumping aboard the Golden State bandwagon.
