OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder have won their first NBA championship, and the city will honor the team with a championship parade Tuesday morning.
They earned their title by beating the Indiana Pacers in game 7 of the championship series 103 – 91.
In locations all over the city, packed crowds went wild when the team clinched the game.
Parade Tuesday
The 2025 Champions Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, in downtown Oklahoma City, according to the City of Oklahoma City.
“The day of the parade will forever live in the annals of our city’s history,” Mayor David Holt said in a prepared statement. “It is a celebration of our team’s historic accomplishment and our city’s renaissance. All Thunder fans from across the city, state and world are invited. I encourage all employers and entities in OKC to allow availability for all to attend, to the greatest extent possible.
Holt added, “For those attending, please recognize the extraordinary and unprecedented magnitude of the event and expect long periods of time and significant walking for ingress and egress. And for downtown businesses and entities, please recognize that normal operations will not be possible on Tuesday. Let’s Thunder Up, OKC! WE are the champions!”
The city is preparing for large crowds at what will be Oklahoma City’s first-ever NBA championship parade. Similar celebrations in other cities have drawn more than 500,000 attendees, according to city officials.
Police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel from across the metro area will be stationed along the parade route to help ensure public safety.
Prepare in advance
City Manager Craig Freeman encouraged parade-goers to prepare in advance.
“We encourage parade attendees to make a plan for the day,” Freeman said. “Have at least one or two backup options for parking and arriving safely at the event. You may need to walk long distances to and from the parade route. We also encourage people to bring refillable water bottles and packaged food or snacks.”
Since parking will be a major challenge, Bus routes to downtown are an option and can be accessed at the EMBARK website to help you plan your trip.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management is coordinating public safety efforts and will secure the parade perimeter.
“We want everyone to use common sense and stay aware of their surroundings,” Freeman said. “Also, expect cell service to be spotty. Let’s gather together to celebrate our OKC Thunder and be great neighbors to one another. This will be a celebration to remember.”
Details about the parade, including route maps, parking information, and safety tips, are available at OKCParade.com/info.
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Brett is the founder, and editor in chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He continues to contribute reporting and photography to the efforts of the publication as well as leadership in developing support.
