Thunder Reporter Hilariously Barks With Players on Camera After OKC Clinches No. 1 Seed

Kristen Wong | Apr 15, 2024

Screengrab on Twitter/ @NickAGallo

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s biggest “dogs” invited one sideline reporter to join their pack on Sunday.

After the Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 135-86, and clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, Bally Sports Oklahoma reporter Nick Gallo pulled aside Gilgeous-Alexander for what seemed like a standard postgame interview.

“Most importantly, we won a lot of basketball games,” Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked about the Thunder’s season as a whole. “That’s what it’s all about. That’s what everybody laces their shoes up for … and to have a chance to win a championship.”

Before Gallo could end the interview, Gilgeous-Alexander and several of his teammates huddled around the reporter and coaxed him into doing their signature postgame tradition.

“Go ahead and bark,” one Oklahoma City player teased Gallo.

In the epic season-ending moment, the Thunder stars and Gallo woofed in unison to celebrate Oklahoma City’s 57-25 record and historic feat of becoming the youngest team to earn a No. 1 seed since 1984.

After the @okcthunder became the youngest team ever to clinch a number 1 seed with a win over Dallas, @shaiglalex explained what’s gone into what he and his teammates have built to this point: pic.twitter.com/0VoXR5VYW3

— Nick Gallo (@NickAGallo) April 15, 2024

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded a league-leading 51 games with 30 points or more this season and remains in the MVP race while the Thunder’s Mark Daigneault took home the NBCA’s NBA Coach of the Year award on Monday.

The Thunder will await the results of this week’s play-in games to find out who they will face in the first round of the playoffs.