Local Hoops Stars Earn NBA Title With Oklahoma City Thunder
Jun 24, 2025, 2:44 PM | Updated: 3:50 pm
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Dillon Jones #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Obi Toppin #1 of the Indiana Pacers fight for a rebound during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Dillon Jones and Branden Carlson are officially NBA champions after the OKC Thunder put the finishing touches on a seven-game thriller, winning the first title in franchise history.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indian Pacers 4-3, outshining another of the league’s brightest young teams.
YOUR 2025 @NBA CHAMPIONS 🏆#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/e1PghAzHG9
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 23, 2025
The duo joins Kyle Kuzma (Lakers, 2020), Sam Merrill & Elijah Bryant (Bucks, 2021), Gary Payton II (Warriors, 2022), and Neemias Queta (Celtics, 2024) as former Utah-based collegians to earn an NBA title since 2020.
OKC Mayor David Holt declares the following Oklahoma City holidays.
June 30 Clay Bennett Day
July 1 Sam Presti Day
July 2 Mark Daigneault Day
July 7 Brandon Carlson
July 8 Alex Ducas Day
July 9 Adam Flagler Day
July 10 Nikola Topic Day
July 11 Ousmane Dieng Day
July 14 Dillon…— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) June 24, 2025
The Oklahoma City mayor declared that each player will also have a holiday in their honor. Carlson’s day of honor is July 7. Dillon Jones will be honored on July 14.
Dillon Jones – Weber State Wildcats
The 26th overall selection in the 2024 draft, Jones averaged 2.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 54 games for OKC as a rookie.
The former Wildcat played ten minutes against the Pacers. He contributed four points, two rebounds, and an assist in the Thunder’s 108-91 Game 6 loss.
RELATED: Weber State Star Dillon Jones Off To Hot Start With Thunder
From Weber State to an NBA Champion! 🏆
Congrats to Wildcat legend Dillon Jones on winning an NBA title with the @okcthunder!
👏@drizzydj23 #WeberStateGreat | #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/Ig9Y2cOTEZ
— Weber State Men’s Basketball (@WeberStateMBB) June 23, 2025
He is averaging 2.3 points and one rebound across ten playoff games.
Jones played a playoff career-high 9:39 in a Western Conference Finals loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored ten points while grabbing three boards and a steal.
Branden Carlson – Utah Utes
Former Utah big man Branden Carlson played 32 games with OKC as a two-way player.
He averaged 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in nearly eight minutes per game.
Thunder rookie Ajay Mitchell oop to Thunder rookie Branden Carlson:pic.twitter.com/Wh2A7TurkI
— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) April 13, 2025
Carlsen was ineligible for the playoffs as a two-way player.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
