The Thunder’s Nikola theme is the first player to win an NBA title before playing an NBA game

Prior to Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Pacers on Monday, Thunder coach Mark Digneault said he was impressed by how the 2024 first-round draft pick handled essentially a redshirt season. “As far as he’s working at the moment, he’s still X after X’s time,” Daigneault said. “He’s still performing. I don’t think he’s going to be a player in training camp right now.” What’s most impressive about seeing him is his youth is his youth, he’s been in the NBA for the first time, his first time in the NBA, with a long-term injury, and he’s been incredibly stable and mature and mature and professional. When you watch someone experience, you can learn a lot about them. ” -Via Oklahoma/June 18, 2025