By Lauren King, www.VeloCityOKC.com.
Thunder fans packed the streets of downtown Tuesday to celebrate Oklahoma City’s first NBA championship with a parade that turned the city into a sea of blue and orange. Chants, cheers and confetti filled the air as the Thunder’s title run became a moment of history—one shared by a city that has stood with its team from the beginning.
The 2025 Champions Parade began at 10:30 a.m. near NW 10th Street and N. Harvey Avenue, drawing tens of thousands of fans. The route wound through downtown, ending at Scissortail Park, where a closing program capped the celebration.
Mayor David Holt called the parade a moment that will “forever live in the annals of our city’s history.” He encouraged residents and businesses to take part in the day, which he said marked both the team’s historic achievement and a defining moment for the city.
Players echoed the same message of gratitude and unity, crediting the fan base and close team bond for powering the Thunder through the season.
2024-25 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on his journey and the crowd’s support through both highs and lows. “A lot of the world doesn’t see it, but everybody in this arena, in this city that has been with me for the last six years—they were chanting MVP when I was averaging 19 points on a 20-win team. They understand. They know exactly what it takes and what it looks like, and without them, we are not this,” he said. “We do everything together. We win because we have each other. We lose because of each other. Now, we won an NBA championship together.”
Aaron Wiggins praised the longtime support of Thunder fans even during the rebuilding years. “I came in as the 55th pick in the 2021 draft. My rookie season, we won 24 games. But the best part about coming from that year is that the same people in this arena today celebrating this championship were the same people there when we were winning 24 games,” he said. “They tried to call us the black hole of the NBA, but four years later… they have to mention you as NBA champions.”
Jaylin Williams, often referred to as JWill, emphasized the team’s family dynamic. “These are my brothers. I know you all see us as a team or the Oklahoma City Thunder, but we’re a family first. When I look at this line of guys and the coaches, we’re a family. You see the post game interviews and social media, but that’s just scratching the surface of what we are as a team,” he said. “There’s nothing in the world that tops this. You dream as a kid, and it’s everything I ever dreamed of.”
Both Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein also emphasized that fan support fueled the team, with Caruso saying the Thunder fan base is what he lives for and Hartenstein stating that the team does not only play for themselves, but they also play for the community within OKC.
Large screens and speakers at Bicentennial Park, Together Square and Scissortail Park helped fans follow the action. Local TV stations carried the entirety of the event live, from the private opening ceremony at Paycom Center to the public closing ceremony on the Love’s Stage at Scissortail Park.
Public safety teams from across the metro were stationed along the route to ensure the safety of all attendees. The OKC Office of Emergency Management coordinated planning and emergency response.
The post-parade program concluded the day with remarks from Holt and an image of the team lifting the Larry O’Brian trophy.
The Thunder’s championship marks a turning point not only for the franchise but for the city itself. What began as a long-term rebuild has become one of the most successful homegrown efforts in recent NBA history. For OKC, this title isn’t just a sports milestone—it’s a moment of civic pride, decades in the making. The win cements the Thunder’s rise and reinforces the city’s place on the national stage, with a young core and loyal fan base driving what many see as the start of a new era.