Sports Poets Society

24 Jun 2025 - USA TODAY US Edition Jeff Zillgitt Columnist USA TODAY An earthquake that rattled Las Vegas on July 5, 2019, suspended play for the night at NBA Summer League. Hours later, another seismic event altered the direction of the NBA in ways that were not immediately recognized. The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the focus of the deal was George joining Kawhi Leonard on the Clippers. Gilgeous-Alexander had just finished an encouraging rookie season and as part of the deal the Thunder acquired multiple first-round picks, including the Clippers’ 2022 pick that turned into All-Star Jalen Williams. Six years after the Thunder acquired Gilgeous-Alexander and three years after they selected Williams with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2022 draft, the Thunder are NBA champions with Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams excelling throughout the regular season, playoffs and NBA Finals. The Thunder defeated the Indiana Pace...

10 Jun 2025 - The Indianapolis Star Jeff Zillgitt Follow NBA columnist Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt.  OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called the Indiana Pacers an acquired taste. “We haven't played them a ton,” Daigneault said. “They're not in the West obviously. They play a very distinct style on both ends.” After wasting an opportunity to win Game 1, the Thunder were left with a bitter aftertaste against the never-quit Pacers. The Thunder devoured the Pacers in Game 2 Sunday evening the NBA Finals with a 123-107 victory. NBA Finals Game 2 box score, stats: Thunder rolls as OKC evens series vs. Pacers While the Pacers stole homecourt advantage, they haven’t played great and it’s starting to become an issue as the series moves to Indianapolis for Games 3 and 4. “Another bad first half,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “Obviously, it was a big problem, and we just played poorly. A little bit better in the second half but you ca...

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,  left,  talks to general manager Sam Presti  during an NBA Finals practice session ahead of Game 2 at Paycom Center on June 7. 8 Jun 2025 - The Oklahoman Jeff Zillgitt Columnist USA TODAY Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti is a student of the game. Not just of the people who played in the NBA, but the people behind the scenes, the GMs and front-office executives who helped define the position and made it what it is today – an indispensable role necessary to competing for championships. When Presti was named NBA Executive of the Year last month, he released a statement and within, mentioned several former executives: Wayne Embry, Kevin O'Connor, Jack McCloskey, Rod Thorn, Sam Schuler, Mark Warkentien, John Gabriel, Bob Whitsitt, Carroll Dawson, Scott Layden and Geoff Petrie among others. Some of those names are familiar. Some are forgotten. But not to Presti, who made sure the ...

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN - Fans cheer in the fourth quarter during Game 5  of the Western Conference finals between the Thunder and the Timberwolves on May 28  at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Television ratings don’t matter. Celebrate this NBA Finals for what it is 6 Jun 2025 - The Oklahoman Jeff Zillgitt Columnist USA TODAY A The email hit my inbox with the subject line “Will viewers watch Pacers-Thunder?” The headline in the newsletter from Front Office Sports: “History shows Pacers vs. Thunder may draw record-low ratings.” It’s not the first time and won’t be the last time that TV ratings accompany a discussion of this season’s NBA Finals between Indiana and Oklahoma City. The small-market matchup has generated this idea that there isn’t or won’t be interest. The NBA biosphere seems to thrive on debate and criticism with an emphasis on how some aspect of the game isn’t good enough and can be better. The reflexive contempt for teams not from the coasts or bigger marke...