The Thunder celebrated wildly on the sidelines. Meanwhile, the arena staff quickly set up the equipment needed for the next part of the ceremony.
Chen Xi and the others smoothly took the caps representing the NBA Championship from the staff, then gathered at center court.
Adam Silver, the familiar bald commissioner, once again came before the Thunder. With a smile, he announced the final result of this year's Playoffs.
"Now, I declare that the 2022 NBA Championship goes to... the Oklahoma City Thunder!"
"Woooooo!!!"
As Silver's voice rang out, the Thunder players, the front office, and the fans in attendance all erupted into another deafening cheer.
Everyone cheered even more wildly for this hard-won honor.
Amid the cheers filling the arena, Chen Xi stepped forward without hesitation and accepted the precious O'Brien Cup from Silver.
Then, surrounded by his teammates, he raised it high over his head.
The photographers promptly captured this joyous moment, preserving it forever with the click of a shutter.
Another new chapter in Oklahoma's history had just begun.
After that came another round of celebrations.
The players took turns passing around the championship trophy and kissing it.
Chen Xi, who had handed it off, put an arm around Westbrook and shouted to his teammates gathered in front of him.
"Everyone!! Meet outside The Dollhouse after this!! Russell's picking up the tab!!" (An Oklahoma City nightclub.)
"Woooooo!!!"
His words were met with another burst of cheers.
The players had just won the NBA Championship and brought a grueling season to an end. They were understandably thrilled.
In this state, expecting them to go straight home and quietly fall asleep was clearly unrealistic.
Chen's announcement gave them a precise destination.
After the team celebration, heading to a nightclub full of flashing lights and indulgence to party hard was