Championship hangover: Isaiah Joe still in disbelief after Thunder’s first-ever NBA title

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NBA champion guard isaiah Joe of the Oklahoma City Thunder graciously recounts his path to the franchise's inaugural title during his first visit to the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – Winning an NBA championship has not sunk in yet, at least for Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe.

In his Manila visit last Friday, August 1, Joe admitted some championship hangover still lingers even after a month since the Thunder won its first-ever NBA crown, beating the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the finals.

“Still (some championship hangover), yes. I mean, honestly, things keep happening. It’s kind of making it sink in even more,” Joe told Rappler at the NBA Store in SM Megamall.

“But, like, even being here with you guys, talking about the championship, talking about the summer and the season, it makes it sink in more and more,” he added.

Joe was a key cog off the bench for the Thunder’s title run, averaging 10.2 points, on 41.2% shooting from the three-point line in the 2024-2025 season.

The Thunder took down a gauntlet of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Denver Nuggets, and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference playoffs before facing the gutsy Pacers in a finals series that came down to a winner-take-all showdown.

It was the first NBA title for Oklahoma City since acquiring the franchise from the Seattle Supersonics in 2006.

For Joe, the title meant more for the city, which waited long enough following years of playoff disappointments and player departures.

“It was really big. I mean, even just based off seeing the parade (in the city), we almost had a million people out there just supporting us. And so, to be able to bring the first one to OKC, I think it’s a really big deal,” he continued.

“And so, hopefully we can bring another one.”

Special young core

Joe also acknowledged the team’s young core led by NBA MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alongside Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

“Very special, very special team. I mean, they held us together through it all, throughout the whole season, and in the playoffs,” Joe said of the team’s “Big Three.”

“They made big plays. They did exactly what they were supposed to do and even better. So, the fact that we had them and the rest of the guys on the team to kind of get together and put together a really good performance and get us a win was something special,” Joe added.

After playing his first two years in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe signed with the Thunder in 2022, joining a then-rebuilding squad. Pouncing on opportunities through his shooting, he has since become one of the team’s valuable pieces off the bench.

For now, Joe believes the Thunder still have chips on their shoulders as teams now see them as still the top contender for next season.

“We have to be hungry, even more hungry than we were last season. I understand that there’s a target on our backs. Nobody wants us to repeat. So, have a zero-zero mindset that none of this that happened in the past carries over,” he said.

“We have to have a certain mindset. We have to be on one accord, be together.” – Rappler.com