OKC Thunder Crowned 2025 NBA Champions 🏆 | Full Trophy Presentation

OKC Thunder Crowned 2025 NBA Champions 🏆 | Full Trophy Presentation

[Applause] fans now as center court for the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the 2025 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award here is ABC’s Lisa Seltters thank you joined by Oklahoma City Thunder chairman Klay Bennett general manager Sam Prey and head coach Mark Dmill here to present the Larry O’Brien Trophy is NBA Commissioner Adam Silver thank you Lisa these finals showcased a new generation of stars in the NBA and two great cities that could not be prouder of their teams to the Indiana Pacers throughout these playoffs they never ever gave up congratulations on a great run and to the Oklahoma City Thunder a team first mentality homegrown allstars and a very special culture clay Bennett Sam Prey Coach Dnald and this amazing team congratulations you’re the 2025 NBA champions [Applause] [Music] now speaking on behalf of the Champion Thunder is general manager Sam Prey sam as you look at that Larry O’Brien trophy what is the first thing that comes to mind about the journey that it took to finally be able to lift it up well the first thing is Oklahoma has a true team and not just a winner these guys represent all that’s good at a young age they prioritize winning they prioritize sacrifice and this just kind of unfolded very quickly um but uh you have to give the credit to the guys and um we’re super grateful to have these guys representing us
sam you said it the rebuild started just six years ago just how did everything come together so quickly it
I mean age is a number uh sacrifice and maturity is a characteristic and these guys have it in spades and it’s a result and it’s a privilege to work with these guys an absolute privilege congratulations to you now let’s hear from your head coach Mark [Applause] mark you told us once that if we replayed your life over 10 million times that you would only be here the NBA finals once and that you’re not supposed to be here you are now an NBA championship winning head coach how How did you get here first of all I don’t know if Sam did this but I want to congratulate Indiana on a great season they were a stiff opponent and this was a dream for everybody here at one point in our lives there was one point where we didn’t know if we were going to be in the NBA from players to staff to coaches it’s a privilege we’re incredibly grateful for it mark what in your mind what is the most special thing about this group they behave like champions they compete like champions [Applause] they root for each other’s success which is rare in professional sports they are I’ve I’ve said it many times i’m going to say it one more time this is an uncommon team and now they’re champions congratulations to you
thank you so much now let’s bring back Commissioner Silver to present the 2025 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award for the first time in 25 years the same player won the regular season MVP the scoring title and now he’s your finals MVP Shay Gilis Alexander [Applause] shay you’ve always said that you wanted to be that guy that your team depended on and now you’re an NBA Finals MVP how were you made for this moment
a lot of hard work a lot of hours in the gym
um this isn’t just a win for me this is a win for my family it’s a win for my friends this is a win for everybody that was in my corner growing up this is a win for the fans the best fans in the world love you guys not so long ago Shay this was a 22 win team so what does it mean to you now to be standing here as a champion yeah it means everything uh it’s why you play the sport you play the sport to win you play every sport to win uh we have a team full of competitors you know we did what it took this year to be champions and we deserve this uh we rose to the moment and here we are and now you and Jaylen Williams will forever be linked as one of the most prolific duos in NBA Finals history what has meant most what has meant the most to you about being able to have this ride with your co-star JDub team yeah jay Jaylen Williams is a once in a lifetime player
like will I’m sorry one second sorry one second sorry without him without his performances without his big time moments without his big time shot making defending everything he brings to this team we don’t win this championship um this is just as much my MVP as it is his and we’ll share this one for a very long time like you said we’re etching we’re sketching the book forever um but Dub’s a winner for sure he’s a winner
thank you congratulations Sush
thank you
Dub hold it hold it hey pass the ride come on pass the
D throughout these playoffs just how have you been able not just to meet the moment but to always rise above it
um my teammates definitely pushed me through a lot of adversity this whole entire playoff so without them I’m nothing
you told us you told us that it was your father who said to you you can’t ask for permission to be a champion what do those or to be great you can’t ask for permission to be great what do those words now mean to you as you stand here as an NBA champion i mean I feel pretty great i mean this is this is um super special to be the first in the organization’s history it’s been a long time coming and to be a part of it is a blessing congratulations to you okc get loud where’s Chad
am I next
there you are there you are chad we’ve talked about it before how you suffered that injury early in the season and you know now just six months later you’re standing here as a champion just knowing that this was the goal how did that motivate you to just get back out on the floor i’ve been through so much personally this year
not only the hip but other things playing too i’m proud of these guys for holding it down while I was out i’m proud of myself for never quitting broken bones bruises it’s all temporary but this is forever let’s go you said that you were always that tall skinny kid whose grit and toughness sometimes got overlooked by opponents just what are you most proud of personally about this moment and what you were able to contribute to this championship run
just uh continuing to fight no matter what happened never giving in and uh you know I just couldn’t be happier for the rest of my teammates man i couldn’t be happier for the city happier for Clay for Prey the rest of the organization i’m just so happy for all of them and uh it’s going to be a great night in Oklahoma City congratulations to you where’s the old guy where’s the old guy where is And I’m just kidding you’re not that old obviously but from going undrafted being in the G- League to now being a twotime NBA champion just how would two-time NBA champion how would you describe this journey to get here again yeah it’s been unpredictable uh there’s been a lot of ups and downs i’ve found success failures all that stuff on the way um you know I’ve had people that supported me my my mom and dad my sisters my brother-in-law my my fiance her family like different paths in the road everyone supported me and just kept me focused uh and then you know the Thunder obviously you know Sam and Clay they had the belief to to bring me here and be a part of something special and special is what we were what have you cherished most Alex about your role on this young team they tease you a lot
yeah no they do
but they looked up to you
stop stop come on bro uh honestly they they they bring a joy to to work every day that is that is unique you know it’s a long season and it’s even longer when you’re playing deep into the playoffs and you’re getting to the the the finals and winning it so just the joy and the camaraderie that we have is is second to none like these guys make it easy to show up and go go to work every day congratulations to you Alex and I just have one more question to Isaiah like how do you get your son to be more into this
i don’t know i know i don’t know why he’s asleep right now but uh I guess it’s not loud enough so uh I’m going to need to get a little louder i guess you can tell him about it tomorrow
yeah I’ll tell him I’ll tell him about it tomorrow congratulations once again to all of you to Shay the 2025 NBA Finals most valuable player and to the 2025 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder your time guys celebrate Mike back to you all right Lisa it always strikes me every year how these young men these unbelievable athletes look like little kids in this moment you you can feel the joy all the work and sacrifice you’re getting a little emotional because I know it’s making you think the bond that is formed that will live forever that the brotherhood becomes such a big part of your life what is that like
i have three guys in this building right now aman Chumper Channing Fry they were a part of the championship everyone’s wearing their ring you remember not just this moment on stage but the dinners the journeys the ups and downs and now that you’re able to be a part of NBA history and be part of a group that will be forever remembered it is something that you dream about it is the ultimate it is the pinnacle of the dream even getting it once is so tremendous and watching them I’m just so proud of this group the character that they are and the people that they are and
and Doris these players get paid an obscene amount of money they’re treated like celebrities they live luxurious lives but this is why they play for these moments to win a championship what’s blown me away Mike is the average age is 25.7 and they were down in the Denver series they were down in this series and the maturity and the ability to play beyond their years and Sam Prey has said it depth in the NBA is now required the game is played so quickly it is such a well- constructed roster this is exactly what Adam Silver talked about parody of opportunity two small market teams squaring off for the NBA title and these young men come out champions and this is a team that in their rotation three undrafted players and five second round picks all in their top 12 rotation boy it is going to be a long night in Oklahoma City they have waited 17 years since this team came to town and what a season what a magic carpet ride for Jaylen Williams Shake Elders Alexander and the OKC Thunder the brilliant Mark Dignel what a wonderful young coach much more to come from Oklahoma City the NBA season ends tonight with a champion crowned in OKC [Music] hey hey

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