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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Aug 29

After 30 years at USA TODAY, it's -30- for me. I have taken a buyout. It's been the thrill and dream of a lifetime. Being a newspaper person was all I ever wanted out of work. There's not enough room to acknowledge everyone who deserves it but my gratitude runs wide and deep.

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Jun 5

Ask us anything:
www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/s/...

From the Thunder community on Reddit: We’re USA TODAY Network sports reporters Joe Mussatto, Dustin Dopirak and Jeff Zillgitt. The NBA Finals begin tonight. AUA!

Explore this post and more from the Thunder community

www.reddit.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Jun 5

Drinking coffee in downtown Oklahoma City and based on outfits, it appears a city ordinance requires 90% of employees at all businesses to wear Thunder apparel today.

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 20

Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Western finals storylines, x-factors to watch

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Thunder vs. Timberwolves: Western finals storylines, x-factors to watch

Stars align as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards face off when the Thunder and Timberwolves play in the NBA Western Conference finals.

www.usatoday.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 17

Celtics' early playoffs exit spotlights NBA's turbulent nature as Boston faces potentially big changes:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Celtics' early playoffs exit spotlights NBA's turbulent nature as Boston faces big changes

Will the Boston Celtics start to unload salary this offseason in ways that once again reshape the NBA and alter the power dynamic?

www.usatoday.com

Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

Jim Owczarski @jimowczarski.bsky.social · May 14

How can the Bucks retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo? Just look to Golden State. #NBASky
🌟 A generational talent to build around.
💵 Money to work with.
🔄 Roster flexibility.
www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

How can the Bucks retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo? Just look to Golden State.

The Bucks can retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo and become NBA title contenders again. They just need to look west to Golden State and Steph Curry.

www.jsonline.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 15

No Stephen Curry, no chance. Timberwolves bury Warriors, advance to conference finals

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

No Stephen Curry, no chance. Timberwolves bury Warriors, advance to conference finals

Golden State, playing without injured Steph Curry since Game 1, is headed home. Minnesota advances to the conference finals for second straight year.

www.usatoday.com

Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

The PBWA @prohoopswriters.bsky.social · May 14

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Kevin Durant has won the Magic Johnson Award for the 2024-25 season.

Press release: probasketballwriters.org/kevin-durant...

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

The PBWA @prohoopswriters.bsky.social · May 13

The PBWA is pleased to announce that Kenny Atkinson has won the Rudy Tomjanovich Award for the 2024-25 season.

Press release: probasketballwriters.org/cavaliers-he...

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 13

Mavericks, Nico Harrison strike gold in NBA draft lottery. Wizards and Jazz strike out.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Mavericks, Nico Harrison strike gold in NBA draft lottery. Wizards and Jazz strike out.

Chances are, Cooper Flagg ends up with the Mavericks, who had a tumultuous season with the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the L.A. Lakers.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

MarcJSpears @marcjspears.bsky.social · May 12

The Golden State Warriors’ basketball communications team won the 2024-25 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award for the NBA’s top media relations staff. The staff is led by senior VP Raymond Ridder along with Brett Winkler, Michael Ravina, Darryl Arata and Cole Lawrence.

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

Jim Owczarski @jimowczarski.bsky.social · May 12

The Bucks have some work to do this offseason, which they knew and have been preparing for. It is different though, because their franchise player has grown dissatisfied with their performance over the last couple of seasons. #NBASky

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

League sources say Giannis Antetokounmpo has been dissatisfied with the Bucks' level of play; critical offseason awaits

The Milwaukee Bucks have a big summer ahead in convincing Giannis Antetokounmpo they will once again contend for a title.

www.jsonline.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 9

2025 NBA playoffs have been defined by massive comebacks. How are they happening?

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

2025 NBA playoffs have been defined by massive comebacks. How are they happening?

In the 2025 NBA playoffs, few leads have been safe. Here's how teams have been able to pull off the improbable.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

The PBWA @prohoopswriters.bsky.social · May 8

Full press release for All-Interview Team:

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 8

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2: OKC rides record-setting first half to blowout win:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

Nuggets-Thunder Game 2 winners, losers: OKC rides record-setting first half to blowout win

The Oklahoma City Thunder broke an NBA playoff record in Game 2 by scoring 87 points in the first half against the Denver Nuggets.

www.usatoday.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 7

Road Warriors: Golden State makes NBA playoffs history without injured Stephen Curry. Buddy Hield to the rescue once again for the Warriors who continue to play excellent defense:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Road Warriors: Golden State makes NBA playoffs history without injured Stephen Curry

Golden State is the fourth team this season to open NBA playoffs second-round series with a road win. Winners and losers from Game 1 vs. Minnesota:

www.usatoday.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 6

Aaron Gordon, king of the 2025 NBA playoffs game-winners; Nikola Jokic has 40-20 vision; Thunder foul-up end of the game management:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Aaron Gordon does it again! Nikola Jokic has 40-20 vision. Thunder look rusty after layoff

Winners and losers from Denver's 121-119 comeback win over Oklahoma City in Game 1 on Monday night:

www.usatoday.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 6

Statement from Thunder VP/GM Sam Presti on winning 2024-25 NBA executive of the year. Very cool of Sam to mention a handful former execs, some of whom don’t have modern-day name recognition but were instrumental in team-building.

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 5

NBA playoffs predictions: Who will win Eastern and Western conference semifinals series?

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

NBA playoffs predictions: Who will win Eastern and Western conference semifinals series?

The Eastern and Western conference semifinals matchups are set. USA TODAY Sports experts share their picks for which NBA teams move on in playoffs:

www.usatoday.com

Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · May 5

NBA playoffs: Storylines to follow for conference semifinals

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
@usatodaysports.usatoday.com

NBA playoffs: Storylines to follow for conference semifinals

The field for the NBA’s second round of the playoffs, the conference semifinals, is set as teams continue their push for the NBA Finals.

www.usatoday.com

Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Apr 30

Kevin Love's touching tribute to late father Stan is beautiful, sad, profound.

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Kevin Love's touching tribute to late father Stan is beautiful, sad, profound

On Monday, Kevin Love told the world his father, former NBA player Stan Love, had died. Kevin's touching tribute is something everyone should read.

www.usatoday.com

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

Jim Owczarski @jimowczarski.bsky.social · Apr 28

How the Bucks can win Game 5 against the Pacers without Damian Lillard: Defense, threes and Giannis
⬇️

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

How the Bucks can win Game 5 against the Pacers without Damian Lillard

Can the Bucks win Game 5 against the Pacers and extend the series without Damian Lillard? There is a pathway to do so.

www.jsonline.com

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Reposted by Jeff Zillgitt

Dustin Dopirak @dustindopirak.bsky.social · Apr 29

Pascal Siakam didn't play much in the way of organized basketball until he was 17 so he's always felt and still feels like he's catching up. But the Pacers are the first team he's been on that wants him to stand up and lead. On how he's adjusted to that: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Raised to be a priest, Pascal Siakam's lessons have made Pacers believers

Since his arrival midseason last year, Pascal Siakam hasn't tried to take over the Pacers, but simply provide what it was missing.

www.indystar.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Apr 29

Jimmy Butler Effect in real time as Warriors get key win and Heat get NBA playoffs exit:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Jimmy Butler Effect in real time as Warriors get key win and Heat get NBA playoffs exit

“We had to have him,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Jimmy Butler, who scored 27 points in Monday's Game 4 win after returning from an injury.

www.usatoday.com

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Jeff Zillgitt @jeffzillgitt.bsky.social · Apr 24

Kawhi Leonard's long, strange year has Clippers where they want to be. He’s one of the NBA’s two-way treats - a “basketball cyborg” as one league exec described his Game 2 performance against the Nuggets:

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Kawhi Leonard's long, strange year has Clippers where they want to be

Kawhi Leonard missed the Paris Olympics and played in just 37 regular-season games for the Clippers. But when he's on the court, he's unstoppable.

www.usatoday.com

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