Jalen Ross couldn’t cease smiling. The 19-year-old lifelong Thunder fan was considered one of 1000’s flooding Oklahoma Metropolis’s streets to rejoice a second 20 years within the making — an NBA championship lastly introduced residence.
The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers on Sunday to win their first title. On Tuesday, Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams, and the remainder of the roster basked within the adoration of followers undeterred by 90-degree warmth.
“It’s loopy,” Ross mentioned. “From the times of carrying my KD jersey on daily basis, to crying when he left, having the Russell Westbrook Fathead in the lounge through the playoffs… it’s loopy to consider. However we did it.”
The parade ended at Scissortail Park, the place Mayor David Holt declared a metropolis vacation for Clay Bennett, the Thunder’s possession head — then added days for normal supervisor Sam Presti, coach Mark Daigneault, and each participant on the roster, drawing thunderous cheers with every identify.
“I simply really feel like they actually symbolize us as Oklahomans and put us — the entire state and the entire metropolis — on their backs,” mentioned Chris Willert, 15, from close by Norman.
Oklahoma Metropolis’s NBA journey started in 2005-06, when the New Orleans Hornets quickly relocated post-Katrina. Town embraced the league and rookie Chris Paul. In 2008, the Seattle SuperSonics moved, and the Thunder have been born.
With Durant, Westbrook, and Harden, OKC turned a contender, however heartbreak adopted. It misplaced the 2012 Finals, noticed Harden depart, and suffered a shocking 2016 collapse in opposition to Golden State — adopted by Durant’s controversial departure.
Westbrook’s MVP run and triple-doubles couldn’t push it previous the primary spherical, and the workforce finally rebuilt from scratch.
Now, with a younger core and renewed spirit, Oklahoma Metropolis is basking in its long-awaited triumph.
“To see this workforce rise and win, bringing a title to Oklahoma Metropolis — it seems like all of us simply gained one thing larger than a trophy,” mentioned Daniel Candy, a pastor in Norman. “It’s our story now. This workforce embodies what each household and group desires to be. Powerful, passionate, and collectively it doesn’t matter what.”