Following a grueling Game 7 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s hopes of notching back-to-back NBA titles have now officially been extinguished, as the league is assured of its eighth different champion in the last eight seasons.
For the first time in 12 years, the Spurs will once again represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, setting up a 1999 series rematch with the New York Knicks.
Before any questions were even asked, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault started the postgame presser with a class act—congratulating San Antonio on the victory, as well as their fans for the immense support throughout the season.
“I want to start by congratulating San Antonio on a hard-fought series…We have nothing but respect for their team, organization, and my counterpart Mitch Johnson. They continued to get better throughout the season, and I think that’s a testament to Mitch and his staff,” Daigneault said.
“I wanna thank our fans that were in the building tonight. The environment was off the charts, they did everything they could for us, and even through the tough times, we appreciate the support we get from everybody,” the head tactician added.
Daigneault Rues Spurs’ Second-Half Run
Despite having just a three-point deficit at halftime, an 11-2 Spurs run in the third quarter capped off by a Victor Wembanyama three eventually extended San Antonio’s lead to double figures, 76-65—to which the Thunder were never able to sniff the lead again.
Daigneault specified San Antonio’s ball control despite playing in enemy territory as a key factor in their victory, and OKC’s turnovers weren’t helping either.
“It was a huge part of the game, their ability to control the ball in this building was impressive, and a huge reason why they won. Our turnovers obviously contributed to what they got tonight,” Daigneault said.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Caps Off Back-to-Back MVP Season With Heroic Effort
With their season on the line, the Thunder once again looked to the services of back-to-back MVP winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to continue their championship bid, but ultimately fell short. The franchise point guard paced OKC’s loss with 35 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists.
With the team now entering the offseason, contract extensions loom, as the defensive duo of Isaiah Hartenstein and Lu Dort currently hold team options, with their future still up in the air.
In his last time answering the media this season, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed confidence in Thunder management to ensure the roster stays battle-ready in 2027.
“I will give zero input, I will let Sam Presti—the greatest GM ever—do his job,” SGA said.
“Thanks guys, have a great summer.”
