The Oklahoma City Thunder makes the Western Conference top seed race look like a joke.
At the time of this writing, OKC has a 12.5-game lead in “Challenger,” the top spot in the Houston Rockets western. Given that Thunder has won four straight times, nine of his last 10 times and has yet to lose double-digit games at home or on the road this season… I feel safe to say the road to the NBA Finals runs through Oklahoma City.
As sports fans, we make such declarations and declarations, and they explode in our faces. Jinx is what calls them. Generally, the point is that it is not official until it becomes official. In proverb contracts, ink must be dried.
In my experience, interviewing professional athletes tends to go ahead with how this is. They don't want to create message board materials for others and want to play safely. When I had the opportunity to interview Chetholmglen from Thunder this week, I thought it was similar. That wasn't the case.
To be clear, it's inevitable for OKC to declare the title, as Chet didn't roam around making hot takes. But when I began to discuss where Oklahoma City was located, I did my best to dance around the subject. I said it all without saying it all, “all” means that lightning is right on the course and where you want to be an NBA team in mid-March (obviously there's a lot to go to… see I just did it).
I was trying not to stick the bear out, so Chet interrupted me and proved he was as cool from the courtroom as he was talented.
“We are clearly in a great situation. You can say it. You don't need to scare you to say it… We understand… We know that at the end of the season, we are better in order to keep ourselves better to reach our goals.
Again, Chet was barely guaranteed, but this is rare in my experience. To acknowledge that Holmgren is dulled and the reality of the situation was cool. I was impressed!
As I was expressing that feeling, he interrupted me (I allowed it because he was Chet Holmgren), and made it cooler.
“If you ask someone where they want to be in the rankings, they'll lie to you if they say something else. You don't have to act like it's not something that anyone else says.”
If you're following the NBA, you'll see that Holmglen is another type of superstar. His willingness to tell it as it separates him, in many ways separates lightning from the field.
On the subject of Chet's teammates… he joined me on behalf of a commercial they both did. Chet, Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appeared in the AT&T commercial released on March Madness. From AT&T, there's another one that focuses on the BFF of the Villanova team that won everything. Interestingly, the NOVA team won the title at San Antonio, where this year's Final Four is.
You can view the commercials below at Chet, Jalen and SGA.
Thank you to AT&T and Chet Holmgren!
