Just a few weeks ago, Lindy Waters III looked at a picture with a bit of disbelief.
He was possibly in high school, maybe a freshman or eighth grader. He wasn’t exactly sure. His hair was shaggy.
There Waters sat in the club seats at Paycom Center wearing a blue T-shirt that was on his seat.
Waters smiled next to his cousin at an OKC Thunder playoff game.
“I remember going to those games,” Waters said, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes.
So, Waters knew what atmosphere to expect when he stepped into the arena for the Western Conference Finals.
He had lived through Loud City as a teenager growing up in Norman. He had played on the court with the Thunder, the result of an unlikely climb to the NBA. Now, he’s back with the Spurs as a sharpshooting option deep on the bench of a team that spoiled a back-to-back championship bid.
Life has come full circle.
“I never would have thought I’d be in this position,” Waters said between Game 1 and Game 2 of the series. “I’m very grateful.”
Waters’ rise to the NBA was full of charm.
A Norman North High School graduate, Waters played at Oklahoma State, where he developed into a strong 3-point shooter and advocate for Native American heritage.
Still, Waters’ options were limited.
He joined The Basketball League, playing for the Enid Outlaws, in 2021. Then landed a spot on the OKC Blue in the G League. He rapidly developed into a 3-point specialist and signed a two-way contract with the Thunder in 2022.
He was converted to a regular contract twice and he signed another two-way contract with OKC over the next two years. But he was traded to Golden State in the summer of 2024.
Waters spent the 2024-25 season split between Golden State and Detroit.
He signed a contract with the Spurs last offseason. He averaged 2.4 points in 40 regular season games, shooting 34% from behind the arc. With nine playoff appearances — including three against the Thunder despite on the end of the bench in his hometown — he’s in the NBA Finals at the Thunder’s expense.
“I’m excited to see my family, play in such high-stakes games,” Waters said. “This is what I work for and this is what we live for. Being able to compete against the defending champs, the hometown team, seeing all of their success and being able to compete, it was a crazy feeling being back here and seeing all the familiar faces.”
The uniqueness of the return home was not lost on Waters. He said he reflected on his journey when the Spurs arrived in OKC ahead of Game 1.
He thought of his former teammates, friends and family. Then he received a text with the picture from his early days.
Waters remembered Loud City. He thought of the playoffs from 2024, his final season with OKC.
And he knew what was coming.
“It’s just always been Loud City,” Waters said. “Oklahoma City is so bought into the Thunder. You can still see it. It’s even louder than it was back then.”
Jacob Unruh is the deputy sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jacob? He can be reached at junruh@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jacobunruh. Support Jacob’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lindy Waters III, once a Thunder player, makes NBA Finals with Spurs
About the Author
