FULL Trophy Presentation Ceremony - OKC Thunder - 2025 Western Conference Champions

General Manager Sam Presley as well as Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett for the presentation of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals Trophies. Please welcome ESPN's Lisa Salters. Thank you. The Western Conference Championship Trophy is named after one of the greatest NBA players of all time, the big O, Oscar Robertson. Here to accept the Oscar Robertson Trophy on behalf of the Western Conference Champion, Oklahoma City Thunder is Team Chairman Clay Bennett. Let's hear from your head coach. Mark, can you make your way over here for me? Coach, regular season success for a young team doesn't always translate into post-season success. Why has it for your young team? These guys are uncommon. You know, they do everything right. They're professional. They're high character. They're idiots. They're competitive. And most of all, they're team first. They embody everything it means to be a team. What are you most proud of about what your team has been able to accomplish so far? I'd expand it past this year. You know, shout out to Mr. Bennett, who had a vision 17 years ago. He has tied this team to the community. And Sam, who's been here all 17 years. He's brought that vision to life and they've provided an unbelievable experience for everybody that works here, including the players and all of our fans. Just one thing for our fans, rest up this week because we need you Thursday. The Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Trophy is appropriately named after another all-time NBA great, Magic Johnson. The winner of the Magic Johnson Trophy for the 2025 Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player is Shay Gilgis Alexander. Shay, just knowing what that trophy stands for, what does it mean to you to now own one? Yeah, it's a really good feeling. Stuff you dream about as a kid. I just want to shout out these fans. They've been here. A couple years I got here, there's some really dark times in this arena. Not fun times. And these fans have been by our side through thick and thin. So we appreciate them first and foremost. And then of course, I want to thank my teammates. Without them, I'm nothing. Clear as day. I don't have 124 points by myself. I love these guys to death. Now with all that being said, this is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do and we know that. And that's what we're focused on. So let's buckle up and get ready. Shay, you've said that through the ups and downs of your career that there were some nights that you thought, I'm not very good at basketball. What are you going to be thinking when you get home tonight? I got a lot of growing to do. We got a lot of work to do to get to our ultimate goal and this is not it. So that's all that I'm focused on. Congratulations on winning MVP. J-Dub. You're going to talk to me tonight? Yeah, I'm going to give you a longer answer. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. You guys are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Also one of the tightest teams in the NBA. Just how do you think that team bond, the team chemistry has impacted what you've been able to accomplish? Yeah, we've been through ups and downs for the whole entire season together. It's only brought us closer. Obviously, we have the best fans in the world, so that helps. But yeah, every experience, we've been able to bond and get better together and that's why we're here right now. Shay said it earlier that it's what every player dreams about. What does it mean to you to know that you are going to the NBA Finals? It's crazy. It's a very exciting. We're going to enjoy this tonight for sure. Congratulations to you. Chet, I want to ask you about the game. I didn't ask any of the other guys about the game. They say that closeout games are the hardest. How were you guys able to make it look so easy tonight? We have 17 dudes on the roster who bring it every single night. Doesn't matter if it's a closeout game or not. When everybody's ready to play and they bring it, it's contagious and we saw that tonight. Chet, there were two months in the middle of this season when you weren't even able to walk. Given that, how satisfying is this moment for you, knowing that you're headed to the NBA Finals? I wouldn't say it's satisfying. It's a step in the journey and you have to enjoy them all, but we still have a season to play, so we're not done. I can never take it for granted. Like you just said, I couldn't even walk for two months, but everybody in here stuck with me while I was down. Everybody behind me stuck with me when I was down, so no matter what, I've got to give it my all for them. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations to all of you guys. Once again, to the 2025 Western Conference Champions, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Western Conference Finals MVP, SGA.