While most national media members are perched courtside or in broadcast booths during the NBA Finals, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has taken a decidedly different approach. The veteran NBA insider has been watching games from a spare locker room inside Paycom Center, Oklahoma City’s home arena—and yes, he’s doing it from his laptop.
In a lighthearted segment that’s since gone viral, Windhorst gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his unconventional setup. Sitting alone in a locoker room with a folding chair, a table, his computer, and colleagues with exceptional nicknames-he explained the reasoning behind the move: it’s all about focus and flexibility.
“I’m in a spare locker room because it’s quiet, I can watch the game on my own terms, and I can jump on live hits without background noise,” Windhorst said with a grin. “It’s not glamorous, but it works.”
Brian Windhorst explains why he’s watching the Finals from his computer, inside a spare locker room at OKC’s home arena. Supreme nicknames of his colleagues, too.
Video via @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/YOyhJvGdrC
— OpenCourt-Basketball (@OpenCourtFB) June 17, 2025
Windhorst, who’s covered the NBA for over two decades, is known for his meticulous preparation and ability to break news in real time. By watching the game on a delay or with multiple angles on his laptop, he can rewind key plays, track substitution patterns, and monitor social media reactions—all without the distractions of a packed media row.
It’s also a nod to how modern sports journalism has evolved. With remote production tools and live-streaming capabilities, analysts like Windhorst can contribute to ESPN’s coverage from virtually anywhere—even a locker room with a folding chair and a power strip.
