Oklahoma City Thunder fans marked the start of the team's playoff run with public displays of support, including a new mural downtown honoring star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The artwork, located off Main Street and Lee Avenue, depicts Gilgeous-Alexander performing his signature celebration.
Several artists collaborated on the mural project. It was created by Overall Murals, a media company based in Brooklyn, New York. The company has previously created other sports-themed murals, including one of late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and another of former Thunder player James Harden in Brooklyn.
The downtown artwork was done in collaboration with Converse. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, signed a shoe deal with the company in 2021 and released his signature shoe, the Shai 001, in 2025. More on his collaboration with Converse is available online.
The new SGA mural is a short distance from a mural of another Thunder favorite, center Steven Adams. The artwork honoring Adams is located on the side of The Paramount building on W. Sheridan Ave. Information about the Steven Adams mural project dates back to 2016.
Gilgeous-Alexander is considered a leading candidate for the league's MVP award. The guard led the team with an average of 32.7 points during the regular season, helping guide OKC to its best franchise record. Details on NBA MVP voting history can be found online.
Mayor David Holt was among the first to be pictured with the new mural. He posed with his hands raised in anticipation of the playoff series.
Downtown Oklahoma City also hosted a large fan gathering at Scissortail Park ahead of the Monday night game. The "Thunder Up in the Park" event included activities, food, and music for fans. [Details about Scissortail Park](https://www.newson6.com/storiesByEntityId/62421a086880e45323a19498/Scissortail Park) and future events are available.
The NBA Playoffs series marks the return of former Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook to Oklahoma City as an opponent in the postseason for the first time. The Thunder face the winner of the series between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round. Information on the OKC playoff schedule is available.
Mayor David Holt posted on X: "Gameday."
