The Oklahoma City Thunder sparked considerable enthusiasm within the NBA community by clinching the 2024-25 NBA championship. Following this remarkable achievement, numerous players, analysts, and former athletes took the opportunity to express their insights about the team’s remarkable journey. However, it was Stephen A. Smith’s remarks that really stirred the conversation among fans.
In a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Smith made a compelling case regarding the Oklahoma City Thunder’s potential legacy as a basketball team, specifically focusing on their 2025 roster.
“I think that they’re an all-time great defensive team, but overall, I look at their offense and they would’ve had trouble with a lot of teams,” Smith said.
Stephen A. Smith doesn't see the 2025 Thunder as an all-time great team:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 23, 2025
“I think that they're an all-time great defensive team, but overall, I look at their offense and they would've had trouble with a lot of teams.”
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/aKFbnJLQLo
Smith expressed that he does not consider the 2025 Thunder to be among the greatest teams in history. The Thunder delivered a stellar performance in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a dominating performance, while Pacers’ star Tyrese Haliburton exited the game early due to injury. This combination contributed to the Thunder clinching a 103-91 victory.
Stephen A. Smith Discusses How Championships Shape Player Legacy
Smith has made a name for himself as a provocative voice in the basketball community, known for his bold opinions. During a recent appearance on ESPN’s NBA Countdown, he discussed the substantial impact that championships have on the legacies of professional basketball players. To emphasise his point, Smith cited Kyrie Irving as an example.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“People try and hate on [Kyrie Irving] then you gotta remember, the brother’s a champion,” Smith said.
"People try and hate on [Kyrie Irving] then you gotta remember, the brother's a champion."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 22, 2025
—@stephenasmith on the importance of championships for a player's legacy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SCM4x6tnCX
Irving had an average of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists over the course of 50 games this season.
