Jeff Zillgitt

After 30 years at USA TODAY, it's -30- for me. I have taken a buyout. It's been the thrill and dream of a lifetime. Being a newspaper person was all I ever wanted out of work. There's not enough room to acknowledge everyone who deserves it but my gratitude runs wide and deep.

From the Thunder community on Reddit: We’re USA TODAY Network sports reporters Joe Mussatto, Dustin Dopirak and Jeff Zillgitt. The NBA Finals begin tonight. AUA! Explore this post and more from the Thunder community

Ask us anything:
www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/s/...

Drinking coffee in downtown Oklahoma City and based on outfits, it appears a city ordinance requires 90% of employees at all businesses to wear Thunder apparel today.

Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Western finals storylines, x-factors to watch Stars align as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards face off when the Thunder and Timberwolves play in the NBA Western Conference finals.

Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Western finals storylines, x-factors to watch

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Celtics' early playoffs exit spotlights NBA's turbulent nature as Boston faces big changes Will the Boston Celtics start to unload salary this offseason in ways that once again reshape the NBA and alter the power dynamic?

Celtics' early playoffs exit spotlights NBA's turbulent nature as Boston faces potentially big changes:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

How can the Bucks retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo? Just look to Golden State. The Bucks can retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo and become NBA title contenders again. They just need to look west to Golden State and Steph Curry.

How can the Bucks retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo? Just look to Golden State. #NBASky
🌟 A generational talent to build around.
💵 Money to work with.
🔄 Roster flexibility.
www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

No Stephen Curry, no chance. Timberwolves bury Warriors, advance to conference finals Golden State, playing without injured Steph Curry since Game 1, is headed home. Minnesota advances to the conference finals for second straight year.

No Stephen Curry, no chance. Timberwolves bury Warriors, advance to conference finals

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Kevin Durant has won the Magic Johnson Award for the 2024-25 season.

Press release: probasketballwriters.org/kevin-durant...

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Kenny Atkinson has won the Rudy Tomjanovich Award for the 2024-25 season.

Press release: probasketballwriters.org/cavaliers-he...

Mavericks, Nico Harrison strike gold in NBA draft lottery. Wizards and Jazz strike out. Chances are, Cooper Flagg ends up with the Mavericks, who had a tumultuous season with the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the L.A. Lakers.

Mavericks, Nico Harrison strike gold in NBA draft lottery. Wizards and Jazz strike out.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

The Golden State Warriors’ basketball communications team won the 2024-25 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award for the NBA’s top media relations staff. The staff is led by senior VP Raymond Ridder along with Brett Winkler, Michael Ravina, Darryl Arata and Cole Lawrence.

League sources say Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dissatisfied with the Bucks' level of play; critical offseason awaits The Milwaukee Bucks have a big summer ahead in convincing Giannis Antetokounmpo they will once again contend for a title.

The Bucks have some work to do this offseason, which they knew and have been preparing for. It is different though, because their franchise player has grown dissatisfied with their performance over the last couple of seasons. #NBASky

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

2025 NBA playoffs have been defined by massive comebacks. How are they happening? In the 2025 NBA playoffs, few leads have been safe. Here's how teams have been able to pull off the improbable.

2025 NBA playoffs have been defined by massive comebacks. How are they happening?

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Full press release for All-Interview Team:

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2 winners, losers: OKC rides record-setting first half to blowout win The Oklahoma City Thunder broke an NBA playoff record in Game 2 by scoring 87 points in the first half against the Denver Nuggets.

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2: OKC rides record-setting first half to blowout win:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Road Warriors: Golden State makes NBA playoffs history without injured Stephen Curry Golden State is the fourth team this season to open NBA playoffs second-round series with a road win. Winners and losers from Game 1 vs. Minnesota:

Road Warriors: Golden State makes NBA playoffs history without injured Stephen Curry. Buddy Hield to the rescue once again for the Warriors who continue to play excellent defense:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Aaron Gordon does it again! Nikola Jokic has 40-20 vision. Thunder look rusty after layoff Winners and losers from Denver's 121-119 comeback win over Oklahoma City in Game 1 on Monday night:

Aaron Gordon, king of the 2025 NBA playoffs game-winners; Nikola Jokic has 40-20 vision; Thunder foul-up end of the game management:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Statement from Thunder VP/GM Sam Presti on winning 2024-25 NBA executive of the year. Very cool of Sam to mention a handful former execs, some of whom don’t have modern-day name recognition but were instrumental in team-building.

NBA playoffs predictions: Who will win Eastern and Western conference semifinals series? The Eastern and Western conference semifinals matchups are set. USA TODAY Sports experts share their picks for which NBA teams move on in playoffs:

NBA playoffs predictions: Who will win Eastern and Western conference semifinals series?

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

NBA playoffs: Storylines to follow for conference semifinals The field for the NBA’s second round of the playoffs, the conference semifinals, is set as teams continue their push for the NBA Finals.

NBA playoffs: Storylines to follow for conference semifinals

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Kevin Love's touching tribute to late father Stan is beautiful, sad, profound On Monday, Kevin Love told the world his father, former NBA player Stan Love, had died. Kevin's touching tribute is something everyone should read.

Kevin Love's touching tribute to late father Stan is beautiful, sad, profound.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

How the Bucks can win Game 5 against the Pacers without Damian Lillard Can the Bucks win Game 5 against the Pacers and extend the series without Damian Lillard? There is a pathway to do so.

How the Bucks can win Game 5 against the Pacers without Damian Lillard: Defense, threes and Giannis
⬇️

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

Raised to be a priest, Pascal Siakam's lessons have made Pacers believers Since his arrival midseason last year, Pascal Siakam hasn't tried to take over the Pacers, but simply provide what it was missing.

Pascal Siakam didn't play much in the way of organized basketball until he was 17 so he's always felt and still feels like he's catching up. But the Pacers are the first team he's been on that wants him to stand up and lead. On how he's adjusted to that: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Jimmy Butler Effect in real time as Warriors get key win and Heat get NBA playoffs exit “We had to have him,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Jimmy Butler, who scored 27 points in Monday's Game 4 win after returning from an injury.

Jimmy Butler Effect in real time as Warriors get key win and Heat get NBA playoffs exit:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Kawhi Leonard's long, strange year has Clippers where they want to be Kawhi Leonard missed the Paris Olympics and played in just 37 regular-season games for the Clippers. But when he's on the court, he's unstoppable.

Kawhi Leonard's long, strange year has Clippers where they want to be. He’s one of the NBA’s two-way treats - a “basketball cyborg” as one league exec described his Game 2 performance against the Nuggets:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels won’t be penalized for tie-up with Lakers’ Luka Doncic, I’m told.

Why 'watch the games' sentiment remains relevant for OKC Thunder amid NBA Playoffs If this OKC Thunder squad hasn’t made it clear, it isn’t one to thrust itself in front of the camera. However, Jalen Williams’ "watch the games" sentiment has become a movement.

“Watch the games.”

Those are the three words Jalen Williams uttered when he grew tired of explaining what’s happening in OKC.

What the phrase means to this Thunder team, and why it’ll remain relevant in these playoffs and the foreseeable future:
www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...

Doyel: Tyrese Haliburton could let his play do the talking, but he lets Bucks know, too Hours after being named most overrated NBA player, now facing Dame Lillard's abuse, Tyrese Haliburton has 21 points, 12 assists in Pacers' Game 2 win.

Overrated? Tyrese Haliburton takes it out on Bucks, and everyone - Pacers teammates, fans, the franchise overall - has his back in Game 2.
www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Plenty of overrated talk. How about underrated? That's Pascal Siakam, who just keeps showing up Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 24 points and hit a critical 3-pointer that ended the Bucks' fourth-quarter run, giving Indiana a 2-0 series lead.

Pascal Siakam had a wide open 3 and making it was basically his job. The Pacers had home-court advantage, so winning Games 1 and 2 was basically their job. Still, it matters that they held on and pulled it off and it matters that Siakam has been their rock: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Thunder vs Grizzlies isn't a fair fight in NBA Playoffs, but can series end mercifully? We’ve now seen two blowouts in this Thunder-Grizzlies NBA playoff series. Do we really need to watch two more of these?

Adam Silver should intervene. Thunder-Grizzlies isn’t a fair fight. www.oklahoman.com/story/sports...