OKC Thunder players leave parade bus to greet fans, bring trophy to the crowd: Recap

A parade celebrating the OKC Thunder's NBA championship rolled through downtown Oklahoma City and thousands of fans swarmed the city for a chance to see the NBA players in person.

The 2025 championship parade began shortly after at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, in Midtown and ended at Paycom Center and Scissortail Park. The parade was expected to draw up to 500,000 people.

Watch OKC Thunder championship parade live stream

Crowds brave heat wave at OKC parade

Though it will be several days until officials can offer an estimate of how many people attended the OKC Thunder parade on Tuesday, images from the scene show the festivities were well attended.

SGA's dad: 'That's what I'm more proud of - the off-the-court stuff'

Vaughn Alexander, father of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, told reporters at the parade that he's proud of his son's success on the court, but also for his humility off the court.

"Everybody's human and everybody's equal. Yeah, Shai plays basketball and he's amazing, but that doesn't mean he's better than anybody as a human being."

"What makes him a better human being is how he acts off the court, and that's what I'm more proud of. The off the court stuff, and this is off the court."

-Cheyenne Derksen

Players take the mic at OKC Thunder Championship post-parade program

Jalen Williams kept it "short and sweet," thanking fans for their support.

Aaron Wiggins rallied the crowd with a shout of, "OKC, I know you're not tired of making noise yet!"

"Without you guys, none of this is possible," Wiggins added.

Jaylin Williams laughed as he took the mic, saying "And they said we was too young... But guess what? We're the (expletive) champs!"

Shai Gilgeous Alexander: "Wow. ... Thank you guys so much. Don't ever forget this. Moments in life like this, they don't come very often. ... We love you guys."

-Jana Hayes

OKC mayor declares day for each Thunder player

OKC mayor David Holt has given each Thunder player his own day in July, culminating with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receiving his own day on July 30. 

Holt ran through the list of dates and players on the stage at Scissortail Park.

-Jacob Unruh

OKC Thunder player buses arrive at Scissortail Park

The Oklahoma City Thunder double-decker Championship buses are nearing the end of the parade route, passing by the massive, cheering crowd based at Scissortail Park.

There will be a closing program at the park, which was expected to start around 12:15 and will last approximately half an hour.

Oklahoma City Thunder players wave to the crowd during the 2025 Champions Parade in Oklahoma City on June 24, 2025.

-Jana Hayes

Social media reacts to OKC Thunder parade crowd size

Social media users had different perspectives on the size of the crowd in Oklahoma City, with some lauding the many in attendance across the two-mile route in the city of 700,000.

Others appeared to think the size of the crowd was not large enough. 

While it's not yet clear just how many people are in attendance, it's expected to be the biggest crowd Oklahoma City has ever seen. Here's what people said:

-Jana Hayes

Social media reacts to OKC Thunder players cheering with fans during parade

Nick Gallo leaves bus, takes drink with Isaiah Hartenstein on parade

Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo is a man of the people. He proved it yet again Tuesday during the NBA championship parade, leaving a bus to greet fans along with center Isaiah Hartenstein, who gave Gallo what appeared to be Don Julio tequila.

-Jeff Patterson

Thunder players hop off bus to cheer with fans near OKC bombing museum

About 20 minutes into the parade, several players exited the double-decker bus to walk alongside and cheer with fans.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gestures to the crowd as he passes the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum as the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrate their first NBA Finals title win with a champions parade throughout downtown Oklahoma City on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.

J-Will, J-Dub, Isaiah Hartenstein and others walked along the barricade to give high-fives and sign autographs near where the parade route turned a corner outside the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum.

Notably, players were celebrating with Thunder fans in what might be the happiest moment in OKC history in the same spot the city suffered its worst tragedy 30 years ago. For those who have a deep history with the city, it was a profound moment.

-Cheyenne Derksen

SGA, Isaiah Hartenstein first to hop off parade bus to meet fans, bring trophy

Oklahoma City Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Isaiah Hartenstein could be seen leaving their double-decker parade buses for a few short moments to greet fans.

Hartenstein busted a few dance moves in the street, and was followed by Brandon Carlson who allowed fans to touch the Larry O'Brien Championship trophy.

Soon, other players joined in on the fun, including Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Lu Dort.

-Jana Hayes

OKC Mayor David Holt, family rally parade crowd

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, his wife Rachel Canuso Holt and two children, were seen in the bed of a pickup truck as part of the 2025 Championship Parade.

Holt, who consistently cheers on the Thunder from Paycom Center along with his family, could be seen yelling at the crowd and waving a rally towel.

-Jana Hayes

OKC parade starts, Thunder mascot leads crowd in cheers

The 2025 Champions Parade has begun.

The first vehicle in the parade carried OKC Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison, who amped up crowds from the top of a vehicle.

He was followed by vehicles carrying Thunder cheerleaders, employees from sponsoring companies, drummers, and confetti cannons.

-Cheyenne Derksen

What is the OKC Thunder parade route?

The parade route starts at NW 10 and Harvey Avenue and heads south on Harvey, west on NW 5, south on Walker Avenue, east on Oklahoma City Boulevard, south on S Robinson Avenue and ends at SW 6. 

Cross streets and other surrounding streets will be closed. 

What time does the OKC Thunder parade start?

The 2025 championship parade was slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, in Midtown and end at Paycom Center and Scissortail Park.

At 10:50 a.m., players were loading onto double-decker buses about to take off and start the parade.

Before the parade, players and their families participated in a kickoff celebration at Paycom Center, then traveled to the north side of downtown to load up and start the parade.

-Cheyenne Derksen

Kenrich Williams sports triple-Williams custom jersey to NBA championship celebration

Isaiah Hartenstein shouted out Nick Collison with a bloody-face T-shirt. 

Alex Caruso shouted out himself with a Mount Rushmore with his face plastered four times. 

Meanwhile, Kenny Hustle himself, Kenrich Williams paid homage to the two other Williamses on the Thunder — Jalen and Jaylin — with a custom jersey featuring all three of their numbers.

-Jeff Patterson

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: We do everything together

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the last player to speak: “Louder!” he shouts, egging on the crowd. He tells his teammates to stand up and get behind him, like in the postgame interviews. “Act like you’ve been here,” he jokes.

“We do everything together, and guess what guys, we won an NBA championship together.”

-Joe Mussatto

Jaylin Williams: 'These are my brothers'

Jaylin Williams said of his team, “These are my brothers. I know y’all see us as a team, but we’re a family first.”

He also thanked fans for cheering the team on: “We couldn’t have done it without y’all. Y’all should’ve worn a jersey.”

-Joe Mussatto

Jalen Williams: 'We're gonna enjoy this moment, for sure'

“What have the last 24 hours been like for you?” Jalen Williams is asked.“Alcohol for the first time,” he says with a giggle.

-Joe Mussatto

Chet Holmgren speaks to crowd holding trophy

“Heavy,” Chet Holmgren says as he lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy with one arm and holds the microphone with the other.

-Joe Mussatto

Alex Caruso, Kenrich Williams thank fans for support

Alex Caruso spoke to the crowd, thanking fans for showing support in many ways.

“I think there was a great mutual energy between me and the crowd this year … Y’all were the difference,” Caruso said.

Kenrich Williams added: “We’ve been playing in every arena in this league, and you guys are the best fans in the world. I promise you that.”

-Joe Mussatto

Fans gather outside Paycom at Scissortail Park

A man carrying a sign with messages like “Repent!” is walking through the crowd at Scissortail Park. Speaking through a megaphone, he’s drawing more than a few curious glances from people in this captive audience. 

Several charter buses rolled past the park, causing the many in the crowd to cheer. Presumably, they think the Thunder players or other VIPs may have made their entrance into downtown on those buses. 

The outer perimeter of the park along the parade route is at least five rows deep with people in lawn chairs waiting for the big event to start. 

Even though Oklahoma City Mayor warned that upwards of 500,000 people would gather for the parade, some people in the crowd still expressed surprise at the throngs of people already at the park by 8:30 a.m. 

“I knew there would be a lot of people, but I didn’t realize there would be this many,” Josephine Burton said, as she and her husband Charles sat in lawn chairs on the east perimeter of the park. 

-Carla Hinton

Aaron Wiggins speaks to crowd, cheers Collison

The whole team stood and cheered when Sam Presti was recognized. They did the same for Mark Daigneault. The players are about to speak. Aaron Wiggins is up first.

Wiggins leads the Thunder crowd in “OKC” chants. “What a journey. Was it worth it?!?” The crowd went nuts.

“Where’s Nick Collison at?” Wiggins yelled when the video board panned to Collison’s jersey hanging in the rafters. Collison stood and tipped his hat to the crowd.

-Joe Mussatto

OKC Thunder players fashion features Nick Collison shirt, Canadian flag

Isaiah Hartenstein is wearing a shirt featuring a bloody-faced Nick Collison. SGA has on his gold converse sneakers. He has a Canadian flag draped around his waist.

-Joe Mussatto

Fans cheer as OKC Thunder players enter Paycom

Thunder PA announcer Mario Nanni is welcoming each player onto the court. Rookie Dillon Jones carried the Larry O’Brien trophy onto the stage. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the last player announced. And no surprise, he got the loudest cheers.

Thunder sideline reporter Paris Lawson is emceeing the opening ceremony of the parade inside Paycom Center.

-Joe Mussatto

OKC Thunder ceremony starts at Paycom Center

The ceremony inside Paycom Center starts in classic Thunder fashion: With a Rob Clay national anthem. The pre-parade event is for Thunder season ticket holders. 

Clay Bennett raised his arms to the crowd as he walked onto the stage alongside general manager Sam Presti and coach Mark Daigneault. The players are about to enter the court. 

-Joe Mussatto

OKC Thunder set for celebration at Paycom Center before NBA championship parade

White T-shirts are covering the seats along the lower bowl at Paycom Center ahead of Tuesday's 9 a.m. celebration.

What is the OKC Thunder parade route?

The parade route starts at NW 10 and Harvey Avenue and heads south on Harvey, west on NW 5, south on Walker Avenue, east on Oklahoma City Boulevard, south on S Robinson Avenue and ends at SW 6. 

Cross streets and other surrounding streets will be closed. 

NWS warns of hot, muggy conditions

The National Weather Service warns that conditions today will be hot and muggy, with heat indices reaching as high as 100 and 105 degrees in some areas.

-Cheyenne Derksen

OKC Thunder championship books

The award-winning sportswriters and photographers at The Oklahoman have crafted two books about the Thunder’s season: “THUNDERSTRUCK” and “Thunder Up!” Each tells the championship story in different ways and formats, featuring scores of color photos and insider observations about the Thunder from Joel Lorenzi, Jenni Carlson, and Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman.

Celebrate the Oklahoma City Thunder's first NBA championship with a commemorative book from The Oklahoman titled "THUNDERSTRUCK."

“THUNDERSTRUCK: The Oklahoma City Thunder's Historic Run to the 2025 NBA Championship” will be available at a variety of stores by the weekend of June 27, although it can also be ordered online right now at www.triumphbooks.com/thunder2025.

“THUNDERSTRUCK,” a 128-page softcover book, chronicles the unforgettable moments of this championship season. From beating Nikola Jokic in the season opener to winning a franchise record of 15 straight games to hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy on OKC's home court.

The Oklahoman has crafted a book about the Oklahoma City Thunder's amazing 2025 championship season.

“Thunder Up! SGA's MVP Season and OKC's Historic Championship Run” also covers the thrills and chills of the championship season but highlights the people and personalities forever etched in OKC lore. “Thunder Up!” is a premium hardcover collector’s book with more pictures, more pages and more Thunder.

At 160 pages, it features more on SGA’s 54-pointer against Utah. More on the showdowns with the Cavaliers of Donovan Mitchell and the Lakers of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. More on the playoff march that steamrolled Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, Jokic and the Nuggets, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves and, finally, Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.

Order “Thunder Up!” for just $31.95 — a 20% discount off the $39.95 retail price (plus tax and shipping). You also can receive a printable certificate for a graduation gift. Order at ThunderUp.PictorialBook.com. 

Many fans will want "THUNDERSTRUCK" and "Thunder Up!" Some fans never will take the coffee-table book out its shrink-wrapping so that it can be passed down to future generations, all brought up the right way to wear Thunder blue.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder players leave parade bus to greet fans, bring trophy to the crowd: Recap