The Oklahoma City Thunder are no strangers to the spotlight this season-and for good reason. As the reigning NBA champions, they’ve earned their place on the national stage, and the league has taken notice. Tied for the most national TV appearances in the 2025-26 regular season, the Thunder are right where you'd expect a title contender to be: front and center.
And they’ve backed it up on the court. Sitting atop the NBA standings, Oklahoma City has looked every bit like a team capable of going back-to-back.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the charge, not just for the Thunder, but across the league. He’s firmly in the MVP conversation and gaining steam, potentially adding another milestone to what’s shaping up to be a legendary career.
So it’s no surprise that the Thunder are once again part of the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate-a day that holds meaning far beyond basketball.
On Monday, Jan. 19, they’ll travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers as part of the league’s annual celebration of Dr. King’s legacy.
The NBA has long used this day to honor his impact, scheduling a full day of games that go beyond entertainment-they’re a reminder of the progress made and the work still to do.
MLK Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a moment to reflect on the life and mission of Dr.
King, who championed nonviolent resistance and fought against racial injustice at every level of society. It’s also a chance for players-many of whom have benefited from the doors opened by the Civil Rights Movement-to speak on what the day means to them personally.
For several Thunder players, this will be their first time playing on MLK Day, and the significance isn’t lost on them.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t hold back when asked what it means to suit up on this day.
“It’s everything. I run around and play basketball for a living.
Guys of my color couldn’t do that back then and make this type of money,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve come a long way from that.
But it starts with him. One of the most important Black figures of all time because of that.
He has a day to celebrate him for a reason. It’s all thanks to him.”
That perspective hits hard. Shai’s not just acknowledging the opportunity he has-he’s recognizing the generations that came before him who didn’t get that same chance.
And he’s right: the ability to thrive in today’s NBA, especially as a Black athlete, is built on a foundation laid by leaders like Dr. King.
Jalen Williams echoed those sentiments, focusing on the diversity that defines not just the NBA, but modern culture as a whole.
“I think the cool thing is just the diversity that’s in the room right now. Obviously, he had a big part to do with that,” Williams said.
“It’s everything-sports, fashion, everything. No matter what room you’re at, there’s just so much more diversity.
Teach people how to respect one another regardless of race. The list goes on and on.
Just for us to be able to sit in this room and have these moments is really cool. Without having him to fight and push for those boundaries, along with all of the other social justice leaders, I don’t know if we’d be here today.”
Williams touches on something essential: the ripple effect of Dr. King’s work.
It’s not just about basketball-it’s about the way people connect, collaborate, and coexist across all walks of life. That kind of inclusion didn’t just happen.
It was fought for.
Chet Holmgren, one of the Thunder’s rising stars, offered a thoughtful reflection on how Dr. King’s legacy has shaped his own life experiences, even from a young age.
“Obviously, I wasn’t around at the time that he was fighting that fight. But I definitely think throughout my whole life, I’ve felt the positive effects of it,” Holmgren said.
“Since a very young age, I’ve played basketball. Everybody I’ve played with-whether organized or unorganized; at the park; AAU or whatever-we have very diverse teams with amazing people.
Without a lot of the stuff he did, as well as others, everybody that pitched in deserves credit. I feel like a lot of those things wouldn’t be available to share together.”
Holmgren’s words highlight just how deeply embedded Dr. King’s impact is in everyday life-even in something as seemingly simple as a pickup game at the park. The ability to come together, to compete, to build friendships across backgrounds-that’s the legacy in action.
“A lot of my friends and people I work with and hold close are very diverse with different demographics,” he added. “I’m just happy we’re all able to do our thing together.
The world is not in a perfect place right now-even back home, where I’m from-but we have to continue to fight to come together and do things together. Just to fight injustices.”
That’s the heart of it. MLK Day isn’t just about looking back-it’s about looking forward. It’s about acknowledging how far we’ve come, but also recognizing how much more there is to do.
For the Thunder, Monday’s game against the Cavaliers is another chapter in a championship defense. But for the players, it’s also something more.
It’s a chance to honor a legacy that made their careers-and their lives-possible. And they’re not taking that lightly.