Sports Poets Society

24 Jun 2025 Jenni Carlson Columnist The Oklahoman USA TODAY NETWORK Tucked in the far back corner of the temporary stage covered in blue and orange confetti, Mark Daigneault positioned himself as far as possible from the action, the interviews, the cameras and the celebration. Leaning on the railing, he looked like he could’ve been observing a November shootaround. It was an NBA Finals coronation instead. Make no mistake, the Thunder coach was excited, thrilled, enthused — “I’m just so happy for the guys,” he said — and why wouldn’t he have all the feels after a 103-91 triumph over the Pacers? But Daigneault’s disappearing act to the back of the stage was telling. Even with the second-youngest team to ever win an NBA title, a bunch so young that several of its core players were old enough to drink the celebration champaign Sunday night but wouldn’t have been old enough to rent a car Monday morning, Daigneault never treated them like youngsters. He enabled them. He held them accountable...

CHRISTINE TANNOUS/INDYSTAR  -  Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) fouls  Thunder  guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during Game 7 of the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City. 24 Jun 2025 Dustin Dopirak, Pacers Insider The Indianapolis Star USA TODAY NETWORK OKLAHOMA CITY – Tyrese Haliburton was standing just a few feet back from the spot where he stumbled and fell on a drive in Game 5 of the NBA Finals when he began the drive that would end his season. With just more than 5 minutes to go in the first quarter of Game 7, the Pacers All-Star point guard caught a pass from teammate Obi Toppin a few feet above the 3-point arc and tried to push off of his right foot to drive and immediately crumpled to the floor again. In Game 5 -- though clearly hobbled with what was later diagnosed as a right calf strain -- he got up. This time, he didn’t. Haliburton still had enough presence of mind to try to pass the basketball instead of simply taking a travel, but once he let it go and the Thu...