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Oklahoma City’s towel tornado tradition explained – How the Thunder soak their reporter in the NBA’s weirdest celebration | NBA News – Times of India

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Oklahoma City’s towel tornado tradition explained – How the Thunder soak their reporter in the NBA’s weirdest celebration | NBA News – Times of India


Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (Image via Imagn).

The Oklahoma City Thunder have become one of the NBA’s most exciting teams, not just for their dominant play but for their quirky postgame celebrations. Their latest tradition—drowning sideline reporter Nick Gallo in a cascade of towels—has taken social media by storm, showcasing the team’s youthful energy and camaraderie.

How the OKC Thunder towel celebration works

After a win, Thunder players gather around during postgame interviews with FanDuel Sports Network’s Nick Gallo. As the interview wraps up, players bombard Gallo with towels, piling them on until he’s nearly buried under the fabric. The chaotic yet lighthearted moment has become a signature celebration for the team.The tradition’s exact origins are unclear, but Gallo has been a good sport, often playing along with the team’s antics. Last season, he was part of their barking ritual, and now, the towel shower has become the new viral trend.

The players behind the OKC Thunder’s towel celebration

The entire team gets involved, but key contributors include Aaron Wiggins, Jalen Williams, Jaylin Williams, and Luguentz Dort. Even MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has joined in, though he once jokingly scolded his teammates for going too far. After one particularly aggressive towel dump, Gilgeous-Alexander stepped in, saying, “Y’all, you got to chill. I’m sorry Nick. The children, I’m so sorry” (H/t: Sporting News). Gallo, for his part, takes it in stride. He told ESPN’s Malika Andrews that he stays focused on the interview, acknowledging how rare it is to win an NBA game.

Why the OKC Thunder’s towel celebration resonates with fans

The Thunder’s success has made the tradition even more fun to watch. With 68 regular-season wins—tying them for the fifth-most in NBA history—and a deep playoff run, the team has given fans plenty of reasons to celebrate. Their chemistry and playful nature make them one of the league’s most likable squads. As long as the Thunder keep winning, expect more towel showers for Gallo—and more viral moments for fans to enjoy.Also read: Minnesota Timberwolves vs OKC Thunder final injury report for Western Conference Finals Game 4 – Is Julius Randle playing tonight? (May 26, 2025)The Thunder’s towel celebration is more than just a silly postgame ritual—it’s a reflection of a team that’s winning, having fun, and embracing the moment. Whether they’re burying Nick Gallo in towels or cracking jokes mid-interview, Oklahoma City’s chemistry is undeniable. And with a roster this talented and this entertaining, the NBA world can’t look away. So keep an eye on those postgame interviews—because as long as the Thunder keep piling up wins, the towel showers (and the laughs) aren’t stopping anytime soon. Who knows? Maybe Gallo should start bringing a raincoat.

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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star

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Bode Sparrow commits Friday: why BYU is Oklahoma’s biggest threat for the Davis star


Kaysville (Utah) Davis athlete Bode Sparrow cut his list to four back in May and has now locked in his commitment date.

Sparrow is a tremendous player on both sides of the ball and checks in as the No. 77 player nationally in the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.

He will make his long awaited college choice this Friday, May 25 from a final four of BYU, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah.

In handicapping this race, two schools jump out for us. The first is Oklahoma. I put a commit prediction in for the Sooners back in March and there was some buzz that he could commit around that time.

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Sparrow decided to hold off making an early decision in order to take his official visits. Oklahoma was the first visit locked in and for awhile, the only visit that was set, giving even more credence to the Sooners being the team to beat.

“They really believe in me and have a vision for me there,” Sparrow told us after his official visit. “They show me so much love and I have such great relationships with the coaches there.

“I also really like the town of Norman and the plan in place for me from a safety/scheme standpoint. They really have everything I’m looking for in a school. Brent Venables is great, a defensive minded head coach and I just love the all around fit.”

Sparrow followed up his visit to OU with trips to Oregon, Utah and BYU. The Ducks made a big impression and should be considered a dark horse. They are easily one of the toughest schools to recruit against and it would surprise no one if Sparrow ends in Eugene.

Saying that, the school that is gaining a lot of momentum and looks to be Oklahoma’s biggest challenger is BYU. For months we talked to some close to Sparrow, college coaches and trainers who all said the same thing, ‘don’t rule out BYU in the end.’

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No one has recruited Sparrow longer than the Cougs. He has been on campus more than any other school, he’s strong in his LDS faith and he has a great connection with the BYU staff including head coach Kalani Sitake.

BYU was able to get the final visit over the weekend and there is some quiet confidence in Provo as well as from a few other recruits/commits who were also on the visit. With the church connection, we’ve long said in a head to head battle, BYU is very tough to beat, especially for an in-state player.

Saying that, there are still Sooner commits we’ve talked to convinced Sparrow is still headed to Norman. That’s why this recruitment has become one of the more fascinating ones to follow this cycle, it’s one of those rare instances where days away from a decision, it could still go in multiple directions.

For now, my commit prediction remains on Oklahoma but BYU is closing fast and this one close to a toss up with a decision quickly approaching.

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career

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OHP remembers K-9 for protecting countless lives during career


Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are remembering a dedicated K-9 officer who passed away earlier this month.

K-9 Dak was born in 2014 and began serving with the OHP in 2015.

Throughout his distinguished career, officials say Dak’s exceptional instincts made a significant impact on public safety across the state.

During his career, Dak was instrumental in the seizure of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana, 46 pounds of cocaine, 151 pounds of methamphetamine, and 99 pounds of fentanyl.

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“These remarkable accomplishments represent countless lives protected and communities made safer through Dak’s service,” OHP wrote.

Dak worked his final shift on June 3 before peacefully passing away from natural causes on June 7.

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“More than his statistics and accomplishments, Dak was a loyal partner, trusted teammate, and beloved member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. His legacy will live on through the work he accomplished, the bond he shared with his handler, and the many lives he touched throughout his career,” OHP said.

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Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2

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Oklahoma captures third MCWS title, defeating North Carolina 13-2


It’s Boomer Sooner time in Omaha.

Oklahoma has won the 2026 Men’s College World Series, steamrolling through North Carolina in the winner-take-all Game 3, 13-2, capturing its first national title in over 30 years and third overall. The Sooners are the seventh straight SEC team to win the national championship.

A dogpile with cheers that made its way through the infiled, it closed out the Sooners’ one-for-the-ages NCAA tournament run. 

It was an all-around masterclass for OU, jumping out to a 3-1 lead by the end of the third and never looking back. They put at least one run across the plate in four of the final six innings, including three in the fourth and four in the eighth. 

The fourth was where Oklahoma’s upper hand became clear. Walker McDuffie’s three consecutive one-out walks loaded the bases, and UNC turned to star freshman Caden Glauber. The Tar Heels were previously 29-0 with whenever he pitched, but he was pulled after a walk and Jaxon Willits’ two-RBI single. 

LJ Mercurius was outstanding on the mound, entering for starter Nick Wesloski in the third and tossing 5.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. It was his longest outing since April 17.

Outside of Mercurius, shortstop Jaxon Willits and Kyle Branch starred for the Sooners. The former went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and was named Most Outstanding Player, while Branch also went 3-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs, a career-high. He’s the third player all-time to record six or more RBIs in a national championship game.

The victory caps off OU’s gauntlet-like journey to the top. After finishing 11th in SEC regular season play, they knocked off five national seeds — three in the top five and two on the road — leaning on a trio of freshman arms and a historic power surge at the plate.

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Men’s College World Series All-Tournament Team:

  • Catcher: Deiten LaChance, Oklahoma
  • First base: Erik Paulsen, North Carolina
  • Second base: Gavin Gallaher, North Carolina
  • Third base: Tyrus Hall, West Virginia
  • Shortstop: Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma
  • Outfield: Jason Walk, Oklahoma
  • Outfield: Owen Hull, North Carolina
  • Outfield: Dasan Harris, Oklahoma
  • Designated Hitter: Adrian Rodriguez, Texas
  • Pitcher: Joey Volchko, Georgia
  • Pitcher: Caden Glauber, North Carolina





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