The Oklahoma City Thunder claimed the NBA championship on Sunday led by head coach Mark Daigneault, who spent three seasons (2011-14) on the Florida men’s basketball staff. In addition, Gator alum DeVon Walker (2012-16) serves as the Thunder’s director of advance scouting and player analyst.
 
Both Daigneault and Walker were part of two SEC championship teams (2013, 2014) and a Final Four (2014) during their time in Gainesville. 

 
“This was a dream for everybody here at one point in our lives,” Daigneault said in his postgame TV interview Sunday. “There was one point where we didn’t know if we were going to be in the NBA, from players to staff to coaches, and it’s a privilege we’re incredibly grateful for.”
 
The NBA Finals were full of Gators flavor with the Indiana Pacers also represented by a pair of past Gators in Andrew Nembhard, who averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 assists in 67 games at UF from 2018-20, and former UF manager and current Pacers assistant coach Mike Weinar (2004-08). Nembhard averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 assists over the seven-game NBA Finals.
 
This marks the second straight season that Florida has had ties with the NBA champions (2024, Al Horford, Boston) and the third time in the last four seasons (2022, Chris Chiozza, Golden State).
 
2025-26 Men’s Basketball Season Tickets
Following a 15–1 home record, nine sellout crowds, and the highest attendance since the 2016–2017 season, the defending National Champions are set for another exciting year in the O’Dome. Season ticket packages for the 2025–2026 campaign are on sale now and selling quickly. Be sure to secure your seats while supplies last!