What’s happening, Oklahoma? It is Wednesday, June 25, and the Thunder really are champions of the NBA. It still seems surreal.

I didn’t make it downtown Tuesday for the championship celebration. We’re still navigating the return home after nearly three weeks. However, I saw all the festivities on TV. Props to News 9, who had big statewide coverage of the event. That’s not easy to pull off in just a couple of days.

This event was a wonderful celebration for the new NBA champions.

But I want to draw your attention to a photo, and not just any photograph.

No, there was one photo that captured the essence of why the Thunder’s title is so important to Oklahoma City and, really, to the state as a whole. It was taken by Thunder photographer Jimmy Do — and if it gets published somewhere so that it can be eligible for a Pulitzer Prize, I think it stands a shot.

This is easily the best photo I’ll see all year. Maybe you’ll agree.

This photo speaks to the spirit of this city, and it serves as evidence that “remembering” is a verb lived out daily in these parts.

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A little less hot? Rain is back in the forecast later in the week.

🌡️ Wednesday's high in OKC 89°
🌡️ Wednesday’s high in Tulsa 90°

Nearly 500,000 line parade route to celebrate Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship victory

By Ylleana Berryhill, Oklahoma Voice
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of thousands of people lined city streets, cheering in the confetti-filled air as open-air buses carrying the Oklahoma City Thunder paraded by.

Oklahoma City Police estimated that nearly 500,000 people crammed shoulder-to-shoulder along the nearly two-mile parade route that stretched through downtown to commemorate the Thunder’s first NBA championship since coming to the city in 2008.

They cheered en masse as Thunder players popped champagne and waved at fans.

Maverick Stephenson, of Norman, sat toward the back of the crowd, waiting for the parade to begin. Stephenson, who was covered from the waist up in the Thunder’s trademark blue and orange body paint, said he’s been a longtime Thunder fan.

“I’m really happy,” Stephenson said. “I’ve been a fan for a long time. I was a fan when we were losing a bunch of games, and it feels really good to see your team win.” 

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'Okies finally have a top dog': Oklahoma City comes out to celebrate Thunder champions parade

By Anna Pope, Robby Korth, Sierra Pfeifer, Matthew Viriyapah, Logan Layden, Abigail Siatkowski, Sarah Liese (Twilla), Sally Verrando, KOSU
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The NBA championship celebration on Tuesday started when Oklahoma City Thunder players gathered to address fans at the Paycom Center.

Emcee Paris Lawson got the event started before several Thunder players spoke to the crowd with the Larry O'Brien NBA championship trophy in tow, including league and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“Just thankful — very grateful, very blessed,” Gilgeous-Alexander said to a cheering crowd. “So many things go into this. Some of the things are out of your control. And we’ve all been very lucky to make it this far in the season, be this healthy, but ultimately be this happy. You don’t ever want to take that for granted.”

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said the arrival of the Thunder changed things here. And this victory will change things again.

“A championship in sports is a prism through which the world views the city's overall success,” Holt said. “The world is watching us today, and we know that the immortality we achieve today opens up doors of opportunity for decades to come.”

He then proclaimed a special day for each Thunder player in Oklahoma City during July.

Along the route

From the Paycom Center, the team, their coaches, the ownership group and support staff loaded onto buses and trucks for the championship parade.

Ready to greet them, hundreds of thousands of fans lined the city’s downtown streets, adorned in cobalt blue basketball jerseys and lots of sunscreen.

Below a giant OKC Thunder flag at the parade’s start, Tasha Brown sat in the shade as music blared and people scooched past her. She woke up at 5 a.m. to arrive by 7:45 a.m. and secure a good spot.

“I’m so happy that we won and I’m so happy that Oklahoma City gets to get this parade because they deserve it,” Brown said.

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The Oklahoma Rundown 📰

A hand-curated list of the best journalism from across the state:

• Tulsa Juneteenth shooting suspect arrested (Tulsa World)

• Greenwood community wants more input on safety and security for future events after deadly shooting (News On 6)

• Howe head football coach arrested for soliciting sexual acts from a minor (KTEN)

• After years of litigation, Edmond Walmart proposal again denied by planning commission (NonDoc)

• Tulsa mayor moves forward with settlement between city, Muscogee Nation (Public Radio Tulsa)

• Parents swallow junk fees to pay for school lunches (Oklahoma Watch)

• Ryan Walters outlines how Oklahoma schools should teach Israel-Iran War (News 9)

• Guthrie Public Schools hire ESS to tackle substitute shortage (Guthrie News Page)

• Southeastern president named next president of Pittsburg State University in Kansas (KXII)

• Senator Elizabeth Warren returns to her hometown in OKC to host Town Hall (KSWO)

• Kansas man arrested after being spotted in Woodward store with ballistic vest, weapons (Woodward News)

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