BACKLed by MVP SGA, Oklahoma City Rumbles to Championship Glory
Written by: Isaiah Lucas
The first Game 7 in the Finals since 2016 concluded with the Oklahoma City Thunder defeating the Indiana Pacers, 103-91. The victory delivered the city its first title and the franchise’s second overall.
The league’s youngest group (average age of 25.6 years) locked in on all fronts, topping the standings and playing mature hoops to capture a ring. The championship marked the second consecutive season that the team with the best regular-season record finished things off (following last year’s Celtics), an even more impressive feat considering that they also became the second-youngest team to win the Finals (1976-77 Trail Blazers).
Fans in OKC saw a similar script the last time their team made the Finals. Back in 2012, a different young nucleus got its crack at basketball immortality but fell short. That team, while great, didn’t have the league MVP at the forefront. The ending was different this time around, largely thanks to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The MVP of both the regular season and the Finals commanded his squad to the mountaintop. He wasn’t alone, though, with players like Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso playing key roles as well.
Gilgeous-Alexander was nothing short of spectacular all season long and kept things up during the playoffs, averaging 29.9 points and 6.5 assists over the 23-game run to glory. It didn’t matter who stepped in front to try and stop him — the superstar got the looks he wanted, whether it was a step-back jumper, a crafty finish at the rim or a charity-stripe swish.
He finished off one of the best seasons the game has ever seen, adding Finals MVP to a list of accolades that also included scoring champion, All-NBA First Team, All-Star, regular-season MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP.
Williams (playoff averages of 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists) plus Holmgren (15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks) did a tremendous job of spearheading the deep supporting cast.
Stifling team defense was also a major key that allowed OKC to dominate games from October to June. They held opponents to under 100 points seven times during the playoffs, including Sunday’s Game 7. They also averaged 10.7 steals and 5.7 blocks during the entire run. Despite consistent displays of sheer dominance, it wasn’t a completely breezy title run for the Western Conference’s top seed.
A sweep of Memphis in the first round got the ball rolling in relatively sweat-free fashion. The Thunder won the first two games at home by a combined 70 points before having to tough out a couple on the road, building the fortitude to handle their remaining journey. Then came a challenge against the Nuggets.
Oklahoma City overcame a 2-1 series deficit and downed the talented crew in seven. The 92-87 Game 4 victory on the road was the one that softened the hearts of skeptics who felt the team wasn’t ready to be taken seriously, especially against a core that won the title two years prior. The Thunder found themselves on the ropes after splitting the next two games, but dug deep in front of their home crowd to handily win Game 7 behind a masterful performance from Gilgeous-Alexander.
The West finals vs. Minnesota went smoother, with OKC cruising to a gentleman’s sweep. SGA got busy, scoring at least 30 points in all four dubs. His first 40-ball of the postseason came during Game 4 of the series, helping shut the door after Minnesota cracked it back open with a Game 3 W. He also had 10 assists in the outing, proving that he could create for others as effectively as he could for himself when the moment called for it.
After dropping Game 1 of the Finals at home, then Game 3 in Indianapolis, the Thunder once again had their backs against the wall. Like a superhero, Shai saved the day, dropping his series-best 35 points while going a perfect 10-for-10 from the line during the gotta-have-it Game 4 victory. His fourth quarter was the stuff of legend, as he scored 15 points over the final 4:38 to send things back to OKC tied. Jalen Williams dropped 40 points during Game 5, putting his squad in the driver’s seat and adding a signature moment to a spectacular season that included his first All-Star berth.
In the do-or-die decider, the young Thunder never looked rattled. They fed off the energy of their home crowd as Indy hung tough, before finally pulling away in the third quarter. As it goes in Game 7s, you just have to find a way to win, no matter what it looks like. Holmgren stepped up huge, totaling 18 points and eight rebounds to go along with five rejections, the most ever in a Finals’ Game 7.
A new crop of young kings now sit atop the NBA’s majestic throne, hoping to become the next great dynasty. You can commemorate the occasion and the team’s special journey with a limited edition 30-Card Oklahoma City Thunder 2025 NBA Champions Box Set. A must-have for OKC fans and basketball collectors alike, the box set features cards from players up and down the roster, as well as special cards that highlight the top moments and performances from the series.
