A Troop of Thunders had already gathered for the post-match interview on the sector, as has change into their behavior, huddling across the star participant and performing as an impromptu hype crew, however a couple of Fridays in the past, Jalen Williams added a brand new twist.
As sideline reporter Nick Gallo was about to ask his first query to Lu DortWilliams draped a towel over Gallo’s shoulders. He smoothed it out. He straightened it out. Then he pulled up the stocking and began beating it gently.
The towel had immediately change into a cape.
What was Dort’s query?
How did he reply?
Arduous to say. It was so enjoyable to see Williams having enjoyable.
These first days of Thunder Season revealed numerous issues. How ruthless this crew could be defensively. How lethal it may be behind the arc. How aggressive it may be despite the fact that accidents have change into a scourge for anybody over 6-foot-8.
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However among the best revelations is that this: The post-game group interviews continued.
We did not know if they might. Would it not merely be a year-long exercise carried out by a bunch of younger individuals having fun with their first successes? Would they fade away because the Thunder change into a extra severe contender this season?
Despite the fact that some have sullied the custom – we’ll get to that in a minute, Draymond – everybody ought to thank their fortunate stars that final season continued. Publish-match interviews are normally very boring.
This isn’t the case for the Thunder.
“I believe OKC has the perfect postgame interview crew within the historical past of the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation,” Tas Melas, co-host of the wildly standard “No Dunks” podcast, stated earlier this 12 months. .
“Who does higher? »
Effectively, that is a tricky query to reply, largely as a result of the overwhelming majority of those interviews happen on regional sports activities networks that are not broadly distributed. I must work laborious to see Sacramento’s postgame interviews on the sector. Or the one in Brooklyn. Or the one in Atlanta.
Nonetheless, it is laborious to think about any crew having extra enjoyable with these interviews than the Thunder.
How did all of it begin?
I declare the origins date again to the 2019-20 season. This was the 12 months, in fact, that COVID hit and shut all the pieces down, however it was additionally Oklahoma Metropolis’s first season with out Russell Westbrook. It was a time of change, and that included the environment across the franchise.
Gone is the regimented, accusatory tone created by Westbrook.
(With nice success, you could keep in mind.)
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The environment was lighter. Though this was apparent in some ways, you repeatedly noticed it throughout post-match interviews on the sector. It was regular for a teammate to photobomb and even be part of the participant being interviewed for a second.
After the Thunder’s victory on New 12 months’s Eve that season, Danilo Gallinari (keep in mind him?) walked as much as Chris Paul whereas he was being interviewed and put an arm round his shoulder.
Paul did not miss a beat.
“I’m very proud of this man,” he stated of Gallinari. “He left early, however…”
He patted Gallinari on the chest.
“He succeeded.”
They laughed and slapped 5. Gallinari withdrew. Paul smiles.
“This crew, man,” Paul stated, “we’re simply making an attempt to have enjoyable.”
Despite the fact that a lot of the gamers on this crew are gone, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort stay. The mentoring they obtained from CP3 that season is properly documented, they usually noticed that he may very well be light-hearted off the sector despite the fact that no participant is extra severe than Paul on it.
That is no small factor, as a result of if anybody needed to finish the post-game group interviews, SGA would have the correct of first refusal, adopted by Dort. These guys are the leaders, the alphas, and what they are saying goes, what they permit stays.
And they’re clearly on board.
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This seemed to be one of many offenses Inexperienced Draymond took with the Thunder interviews a couple of weeks in the past. Throughout an episode of his podcast, the Golden State agitator claimed the antics present Oklahoma Metropolis’s gamers do not perceive what it takes to compete for a crown.
“It takes some seriousness to win on this league,” Inexperienced stated. “And there’s a sure worry that it’s a must to instill in groups to win. I simply do not know in the event that they instill that worry in groups with all of the bromance and stuff after the sport.
Do not groups encourage worry in opponents by what they do? throughout the sport?
And hey, is not Inexperienced enjoying alongside a man who dances and wiggles and has all types of enjoyable? throughout video games?
I am fairly positive this does not make individuals any much less terrified of Steph Curry or the Warriors.
The identical goes for the Thunder. This crew evokes worry with what they do on the sector whereas having enjoyable off it.
Nonetheless, Draymond stated he thinks postgame interviews impression the dimensions of an SGA star. Inexperienced argued that Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t a worldwide phenomenon, a man who has famous person expertise however not famous person standing.
“For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to take the subsequent step, there are specific issues a famous person does,” Inexperienced stated. “Like I stated, the interview. Like Shai, individuals wish to hear what it’s a must to say, they wish to hear you converse, they wish to hear your ideas.
“They do not wish to hear when seven guys within the again say, ‘Roar!’ roar! roar!’ They do not wish to hear that.
This remark makes me surprise if Draymond truly watched the Thunder interviews. As a result of if he did, he would be certain that through the precise interview, the gamers gathered round wouldn’t disrupt the questions or solutions. They usually stay silent, listening attentively and even leaning in to listen to the discuss.
Throughout the towel-like interview, Gallo requested Dort how he mentally prepares to tackle necessary defensive assignments like he did towards the Suns and Devin Booker.
“It’s going to be a dogfight each evening,” Dort stated. “There are such a lot of nice gamers on this league, so I simply have to return right here and compete.”
When the interview ended seconds later, Williams elbowed Dort’s shoulder.
“Derial fight,” Williams stated. “I like what you probably did there.”
As a result of, in fact, the one factor left for the assembled Thunder forged to do was bark. This a part of the sector interview additionally continued. Thank goodness for that.
Thank God for all of this.
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Jenni Carlson: Jenni could be reached at 405-475-4125 or [email protected]. Like her at fb.com/JenniCarlsonOK, observe her at twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok and help her work and that of different Oklahoma journalists by buying a digital subscription immediately.
This text was initially revealed on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder TV’s post-game panel interviews boost the mundane
