Aaron Wiggins is now an NBA champion and he's not afraid to let everybody know.
The former second-round pick played a key reserve role for the Oklahoma City Thunder this year en route to the franchise's first championship. Wiggins came up huge in the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 18 points in Game 2, and then 14 in Game 5.
However, it hasn't always been glamorous for Wiggins. He came into the league as a late draft pick without much fanfare, and he didn't appear to factor much into the team's long-term plans at first. Instead, Wiggins persevered and carved out a nice role for himself on the NBA's best team.
On Tuesday, Wiggins, his teammates, and the rest of Oklahoma City gathered downtown to celebrate the team's accomplishment. Ahead of the championship parade, everybody gathered inside Paycom Center for the opening ceremony featuring the trophy presentation.
Wiggins volunteered to speak to the crowd, and he proceeded to give one of the best speeches you'll hear from an athlete.
The Maryland product began his speech by giving credit to the Thunder players of years past who paved the way for this current team. Wiggins specifically shouted out Nick Collison, who spent 16 seasons as a player for the Thunder and is now a special assistant in the front office.
"We've got to show love to the greats and the legends that wore Oklahoma City across their chests," said Wiggins. "They set the foundation for us so we can celebrate today."
Wiggins then proceeded to shout for Collison, who stood up and received an ovation from the Oklahoma City faithful.
Then, Wiggins talked about the hard times the Thunder went through for several seasons before getting to the point they're at now.
“It was a point where they tried to call us the black hole of the NBA. But four years later, when they mention the Thunder organization and every single one of you in this arena, they got to mention you as NBA champs!” Wiggins yelled before dropping the microphone and being mobbed by his teammates onstage.
Wiggins later clarified that he meant "black eye" of the NBA, not "black hole."
Regardless, it was an awesome moment and surely gave every Thunder fan goosebumps. Wiggins was already a fan-favorite, but now he has cemented himself as an Oklahoma City legend.
In 2024-25, Wiggins played in 76 games and averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists, while shooting 48.8% from the field and 38.3% from deep.
While Wiggins doesn't get as much praise as most other Thunder players, the forward was rewarded with a five-year extension last summer.