Mark Daigneault praised the Indiana Pacers after the Thunder’s 103-91 win in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He acknowledged the Pacers’ toughness and coaching, expressing respect despite their loss. “I have such respect for the way they play, the way they’re coached,” he said.
Daigneault took a moment to congratulate the Thunder organization and the city of Oklahoma City. “I’m humbled that I get to be a part of it,” he added, highlighting the collective effort behind the championship.
When asked about his emotions immediately after winning, Daigneault said, “I’m just so happy for the guys. This is a historic team. I wanted it so bad for them.” He emphasized the players’ professionalism and competitiveness as key to their success.
The coach singled out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, describing him as a “once-in-a-lifetime player” with a rare combination of skills. “There’s nothing he can’t do on a basketball court,” Daigneault said, noting Gilgeous-Alexander’s continued growth.
Daigneault also reflected on his journey with players like Alex Caruso, whom he coached in the G-League. “That was a special moment for me,” he said about their embrace late in the game.
Discussing the team’s rapid rise from recent losing seasons, Daigneault credited the organization’s character and long-term vision. “Mr. Bennett’s been here from the jump, Sam’s been here from the jump… those two guys have built a first-class organization,” he said, pointing to the strong foundation behind the team’s turnaround.
Defensive intensity was a focus in the second half of Game 7, with Daigneault praising his team’s effort. “The whole run, I’ve just tried to help the guys just be who they are,” he explained, noting the importance of staying true to their identity.
Asked about what winning the championship meant to him personally, Daigneault expressed gratitude and responsibility. “Everyone says the team’s hard to coach… that’s the ultimate pressure on a coach,” he said. “I feel like I was able to do that for them because they deserved all of this.”
The coach recognized the significance of the Finals series as a whole. “It was great for the league—for two small market teams that have never won a championship to have the type of series that we did,” he said.
Daigneault praised his team’s focus on the present moment, recalling how they stayed “rooted in the moment” despite adversity in the series. “They did an unbelievable job of that all year. They did a great job of it tonight.”
Finally, he reiterated a team mantra about competition: “You can talk about it all you want, but it comes down to how you perform, and these guys perform like competitive monsters.”
