OKC Thunder Defensive Star Defends World Champion Title
The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the NBA Championship after a thrilling seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers in June, but the basketball world is divided on whether the Thunder can truly be called “world champions.” Alex Caruso, the Thunder’s defensive standout, is unapologetic in defending the title.
Back in late June, confetti filled the Paycom Center floor as the Thunder secured their first major professional sports title with a Game 7 victory over the Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals. This victory marked a major milestone in Oklahoma City’s 20-year journey in the NBA, during which they consistently fielded competitive teams but had never captured the ultimate prize—until now.
With the championship secured, the Thunder are poised for a potential dynasty. This summer, they locked in their core trio: superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Star Jalen Williams, and rising star Chet Holmgren. With one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league, and a team that continues to develop young talent, there’s no question the Thunder will be a major contender for years to come.
While the celebrations and media tours continue, the debate over whether the Oklahoma City Thunder can be considered world champions rages on. This issue was initially sparked by Team USA sprinter Noah Lyles a few years ago, and now, as Eurobasket kicks off, some Euroleague coaches have joined in, expressing their frustration with the “world champion” label.
Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman recently stated, “If you want to be a world champion, you must beat the Euroleague champion. Maybe you must beat the Australian champion as well.” However, his argument crumbles when you consider other global leagues like the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). If the only criteria for a world championship is a showdown between the Euroleague and the NBA champions, it wouldn’t truly represent global competition—many other leagues would be left out.
Alex Caruso, ever the defender of his team’s honor, responded to Ataman’s remarks on Instagram with a simple but dismissive caption: “lol let’s play the games then.” It was the perfect response from the Thunder veteran, who rightfully poked fun at what seemed like an inflated attempt at fairness.
While the Euroleague features solid players and competitive teams, it still doesn’t compare to the NBA. There’s a reason why basketball players from all over the world aspire to play in the NBA. And while some Euroleague players, like Vasilije Micic, might dominate in Europe and struggle in the NBA, it only underscores the difference in style and competition level.
This whole debate has gotten out of hand. Yes, the NBA might only include teams from the U.S. and Canada, but its rosters are made up of the best basketball players from across the globe. Nobody would question the Philadelphia Eagles’ claim to be the World Champions of football just because they didn’t defeat the Canadian Football League champions or the XFL champions.
Similarly, the winner of Major League Baseball’s World Series doesn’t need to face the champion of a winter league in December to validate their title.
The NBA champion has faced the world’s best competition and come out on top—that’s why they are the “World Champions.” So whether you call them NBA champions or world champions, let’s not overcomplicate things by insisting they must play teams from every corner of the globe to prove their worth.
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