2025 NBA Finals An Unforeseen Clash Of Rising Superstars: Analyzing OKC Thunder And Indiana Pacers

An unlikely NBA Finals matchup between two rivals who have never been to the promised land. But, in hindsight, it seems like the seeds for the same were planted almost a decade ago.

Back in 2017 — when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was about to enroll at Kentucky and Tyrese Haliburton was preparing for his senior year of high school in Wisconsin — the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring Domantas Sabonis in return. In 2019, the Thunder traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a package that included Gilgeous-Alexander. Later, in 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for a package that included Haliburton.

Here we are now.

Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s MVP and Oklahoma City’s best player, while Haliburton is an Olympic gold medalist and Indiana’s best player. They will lead their teams into Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night—Indiana at Oklahoma City—in a series that will determine who hoists the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s OKC So Far

Depending on how you count, the Thunder are in the finals for either the second time or the fifth time. The franchise, when it was in Seattle, lost the NBA World Championship Series to Washington in 1978, won the title in a rematch against the then-Bullets in 1979, and lost in the NBA Finals to Chicago in 1996.

Oklahoma City, bolstered by the holy trinity of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden, reached the finals in 2012, only to lose to a spirited LeBron James-led Miami Heat.

This season, the Thunder are 80-18, following a 68-14 regular season and a 12-4 playoff run, sweeping Memphis in Round 1, surviving seven games against Denver in Round 2, and defeating Minnesota in five games for the Western Conference title.

Tyrese Haliburton and The Indiana Pacers So Far

Indiana is in the NBA Finals for the second time, having lost to the Shaq-Kobe Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.

This year, they emerged from the Eastern Conference as the No. 4 seed, defeating Milwaukee in five games in Round 1, top-seeded Cleveland in five games in Round 2, and New York in the conference finals.

The Pacers were 10-15 through the first 25 games of the season, then went 40-17 to finish the regular season.

They are the fourth team to start 10-15 or worse and win a conference title, joining Seattle in 1977-78 (8-17), the 1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (10-15), and the 1958-59 Minneapolis Lakers (10-15). None of those teams went on to win the NBA title.

The Rivalry So Far This Season

Oklahoma City swept the season series with Indiana 2-0, part of a regular season where the Thunder, who finished with the NBA’s best record, went 29-1 against the Eastern Conference. This does not include a loss to Milwaukee in the NBA Cup final, a game that didn’t count in any standings.

So, the matchup is set. It’s the Paul George finals, albeit without Paul George, who had arguably the best season of his career with the Thunder, averaging 28 points and finishing third in the MVP voting for 2018-19, starting at OKC on Thursday.

(with agency inputs)