Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals his emotions ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Before Oklahoma City ThunderOpening night of the 2025-26 NBA season as the defending champion All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is excited for a historic night at the Paicom Center. The championship ring and banner cement the franchise’s first title as The Thunder enter the upcoming season with the best odds repeat as champions.

Gilgeous-Alexander rejoices feeling raw emotions something only the defending champion in the opener can relate to, he said, before the Thunder’s practice on Monday.

“I’m super excited. Obviously, I don’t really know what to expect, but yeah, it should be a lot of fun,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “The challenge will be to reel in all the emotion, joy and excitement, reel it all in so we can get the job done and start the season the right way. But I think this group is well equipped to do that.”

Going from pregame emotions to facing the Houston Rockets will be the Thunder’s first test of the regular season, something Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admits. However, he enters the upcoming season confident that Oklahoma City is still the team to beat.

“We should be ahead of a lot of teams since we have basically the same team from last year,” Gilgeous-Alexander added. “I feel pretty good about that. We’re not going to be as good tomorrow as we want to be and we will be in a week and a fortnight if we keep going. But I think we’re at a good starting point.”

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has no idea what his championship ring looks like, is anxious to find out on Tuesday.

“I can’t wait – to have an official piece of hardware that I dreamed about for so many years during my childhood and growing up,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “Should be fun tomorrow night.”

OKC Mayor Proclaims ‘Thunder Day’ Ahead of Opening Day

Mayor of Oklahoma City David Holt declared October 21st ‘OKC Thunder Day’ in light of the Thunder’s championship banner ceremony at the Paicom Center. Holt announced a day of commemoration of the city on its X, formerly Twitter.

“Next Tuesday, our NBA champion OKC Thunder returns to the court. Prior to the game, a permanent championship banner will be unveiled in our arena and the players will receive their championship rings,” said Holt. “Other commemorations will be revealed around the city. It is the end of one chapter (which we will always celebrate) and the beginning of another.”

“And so it is most fitting that I hereby declare Tuesday, October 21, 2025, OKC THUNDER DAY in Oklahoma City and encourage our residents to mark the occasion by wearing Thunder apparel, displaying Thunder flags and signs, showing support on social media and otherwise commemorating our city’s first NBA Championship.”

The stage is set for the Thunder’s first championship ceremony on Tuesday.