OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder had just clinched the NBA championship, and after the on-court celebrations concluded, they eagerly moved towards their locker room, ready to revel in their hard-earned victory. The highlight of any post-championship celebration is the exuberant spraying of champagne, a tradition that the Thunder were excited to uphold.
“Where’s the champagne at?” exclaimed several players as they entered the room, anticipation buzzing in the air.
Champagne was indeed at the ready, but the youthful Thunder team ran into an unexpected hiccup: they didn’t quite know how to actually open the bottles. At the time, they were the youngest NBA champions in nearly 50 years, and most of them were unfamiliar with how to pop the bubbly.
“We didn’t know what to do,” admitted center Isaiah Hartenstein, mentioning that some players, after their victorious moment, turned to YouTube for instructional videos on unleashing the effervescent spray.
Veteran guard Alex Caruso, who had the experience of winning an NBA title before, stepped up to the plate. At 31, he was the oldest member of the team and took it upon himself to demonstrate how to properly execute the celebratory task. It required a few attempts, but eventually, they got the hang of it.
“We didn’t get it right until probably the third try,” Caruso shared. “I did my best to coach everyone through it.”
Ultimately, the Thunder mastered the art of champagne popping, marking the culmination of a season filled with lessons. The team ended their campaign with 84 victories, which tied them for the third-most wins in NBA history. Looking forward, all key players are expected to return next season as they are still under contract.
Reflecting on their journey and looking ahead, Caruso hopes for a more seamless celebration in 2026 should they repeat their success. “We’ll take a break, recharge, and aim to win again next year,” he said. “We’ll be better. We will be even better next year.”