Historic! The Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned NBA champions in 2025, marking a milestone in the franchise’s history. The 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the seventh game of the Finals sealed a year of absolute dominance and an impressive resurgence of the team. After seasons of 22 and 24 wins in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively, the Thunder reached the top of the Western Conference in the last two seasons. In the 2024-25 regular season, they achieved 68 wins, one of the seven best marks in NBA history. The team set the record for the largest point differential in the regular season, surpassing a mark that had lasted for more than half a century. In total, the Thunder accumulated 84 wins between the regular season and playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third place in history. The seventh game was marked by the injury of the Pacers’ star, Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an injury to his right Achilles tendon. Despite the injury, the Pacers fought, reaching halftime with a 48-47 lead. However, the Thunder, led by the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dominated the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 34-20 and taking a 13-point lead. The Pacers attempted a comeback, getting within 10 points with a three-pointer by Andrew Nembhard. However, Oklahoma City kept their cool and secured the victory.
This championship is the result of the vision of the team’s general manager, Sam Presti, who has been at the helm since the franchise’s last season in Seattle in 2007-08. Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder have achieved the second-most regular season wins, surpassed only by the Boston Celtics, and the fifth-most postseason wins. Ironically, the championship came on the same day that Kevin Durant, a key member of the original team, was traded to the Houston Rockets, which could make them the biggest threat to the Thunder in the Western Conference next season. Following Durant’s departure in 2016, the first era of the Thunder came to an end in 2019, when Presti traded Russell Westbrook and Paul George in a series of moves that laid the groundwork for the current team, including the arrival of Gilgeous-Alexander. Alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort arrived in 2019, an undrafted player who became a top-tier defender. In 2022, Oklahoma City added Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, who played a crucial role in OKC’s playoff run. Williams had a fantastic series in the Finals, scoring 40 points in Game 5. Holmgren, despite not having good shooting percentages, impacted the game in other ways, including five blocks in Sunday’s victory.It doesn’t feel real. So many moments, so many emotions, so many nights of disbelief and faith. It’s incredible to know that we are here, but this group worked hard and deserves it.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I don’t play for records, but to win. Winning is forever, it’s immortal. I am happy to have achieved it together as a team.
Chet HolmgrenWith Williams and Holmgren ready to sign contract extensions, along with Gilgeous-Alexander, this could be just the beginning for a team that has only two players over 27 years old, becoming the second youngest champion in NBA history. They behave like champions, they compete like champions. They support each other in success, which is rare in professional sports. They are an unusual team, and now they are champions. Oklahoma City’s victory continues an era of parity in the NBA. The Thunder are the ninth franchise to win a title in the last 12 seasons. Gilgeous-Alexander, capped off his historic season with 29 points and 12 assists, achieving a rare combination of honors: Regular Season MVP, Finals MVP, NBA champion, and scoring champion. This places him in an elite list, being the first player to win the league MVP award and a championship in the same season since Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors in 2014-15. That season, Curry won his first title with a young and rising Warriors team, which then contested six Finals in eight years and won four championships. It remains to be seen if the Thunder will start a similar streak, but it all starts with a championship. And, after 17 years, Oklahoma City has finally done it.
