03.06.2025 - The 2025 NBA Finals promise to deliver a fresh chapter in the league's history as the Oklahoma City Thunder face off against the Indiana Pacers. This is more than just a battle for the Larry O’Brien Trophy—it's a milestone matchup between two franchises hungry for their first NBA championship.
Set to begin on June 5, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for June 22, this best-of-seven series is the culmination of a season filled with surprises, breakthroughs, and unprecedented milestones. With neither team having won an NBA title in their current form, and both cities making only their second appearance in the Finals, the 2025 edition guarantees a first-time NBA champion.
David vs. David: A Final Without Giants
The 2025 Finals break from tradition in almost every way. For the seventh straight season, the league will crown a new champion—a modern record. This is also the first Finals without a luxury tax team in the salary cap era and features the smallest market size for a Finals matchup since 2007 (Cleveland vs. San Antonio). It's a bold reminder that smart drafting, player development, and system-building can still triumph in a star-powered league.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Dominant and Determined
Finishing the regular season with a league-best 68–14 record, the Thunder enter the Finals as heavy favorites. They boast one of the most statistically dominant teams in league history, outscoring opponents by 12.9 points per game, breaking a record that had stood since 1972.
At the center of this remarkable run is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the 2024–25 NBA MVP, who averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. Alongside him, Jalen Williams has emerged as a two-way force and first-time All-Star, while Chet Holmgren, Luguentz Dort, and newcomers Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso round out the league’s most fearsome defensive unit. Dort was named First Team All-Defense, and the team led the NBA in multiple defensive categories.
The Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, outlasted the defending champion Denver Nuggets in seven games, and dismantled the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference Finals. OKC’s 8–1 home record in the playoffs is backed by blowout wins, showcasing their depth and consistency.
This is Oklahoma City's first Finals appearance since 2012, and the franchise is still searching for its first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, where they won their lone championship in 1979. Aside from Alex Caruso, who won with the Lakers in 2020, the Thunder roster and coaching staff are all Finals first-timers, making their dominance even more impressive.
Indiana Pacers: The Comeback Kings
If the Thunder have been the season’s juggernaut, the Indiana Pacers have been its grittiest underdog story. Starting the year at a disappointing 10–15, the team rebounded dramatically, finishing 50–32 and storming through the Eastern Conference playoffs. Since that low point in December, Indiana has gone 52–21 including the postseason—a testament to resilience, teamwork, and timely adjustments.
Led by Tyrese Haliburton, who battled early season struggles to earn a Second All-NBA selection, and Pascal Siakam, a 2019 champion with Toronto, the Pacers combine elite ball movement and scoring efficiency with surprising depth. They led the league in true shooting percentage and assist percentage, despite no player averaging over 33.6 minutes per game.
Their playoff run has been a story of miracle comebacks and clutch performances. They eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, stunned the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers, and outlasted the New York Knicks in six. Three of their wins came after double-digit deficits with under three minutes remaining—a statistical anomaly in modern NBA history.
This marks Indiana’s second NBA Finals appearance, the first being in 2000. While they hold three ABA titles, they are still chasing their first NBA crown. Head coach Rick Carlisle returns to the Finals for the first time since winning it all with the Mavericks in 2011 and hopes to guide this team to a long-awaited title.
A Clash of Eras and Philosophies
The Finals not only offer a contrast in team histories but also playing styles. Oklahoma City thrives on elite defense, pace, and top-end star power, while Indiana operates with depth, offensive fluidity, and team-first basketball. This will be the first playoff meeting between these two franchises, though OKC won both regular-season matchups.
It’s also a full-circle moment: both teams’ rise began with the trade of Paul George, whose exit from Indiana to OKC in 2017 ultimately led to the acquisition of Haliburton (via Sabonis) for the Pacers and Gilgeous-Alexander (via the Clippers) for the Thunder.
Prediction and Outlook
On paper, Oklahoma City’s depth, dominance, and home-court advantage make them favorites. But Indiana has already toppled more experienced teams and thrives under pressure. If Haliburton and Siakam can maintain their late-season form and clutch gene, the Pacers could make history once again.
Whatever the outcome, fans are guaranteed a fresh champion, new heroes, and a Finals series that celebrates team building, perseverance, and the beauty of basketball beyond the biggest markets.
