Fueled by emerging stars and deep, dynamic rosters, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers will tip off the NBA Finals on June 5 (June 6 in Singapore), with both franchises chasing a historic first championship title for their city.
Oklahoma City, the top team in the league with 68 regular-season wins, enters the best-of-seven series as the favorite and will host Game 1. Their opponent, Indiana, comes in as a high-octane squad led by an exciting core of young talent.
Both teams are built around elite young point guards — NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, for the Thunder, and 25-year-old Tyrese Haliburton for the Pacers.
Indiana is aiming to capture its first NBA title in its 58-year history. The Thunder, who relocated from Seattle in 2008, have one title to their name — won as the Seattle SuperSonics back in 1979.
“It’s a new blueprint for the league,” said Pacers center Myles Turner. “Gone are the days of superteams. Now it’s about youth, energy, defense, and chemistry. That’s what we have — and OKC too.”
The Thunder’s only other NBA Finals appearance came in 2012, when a young core of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook fell to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Indiana last reached the Finals in 2000, losing to the Lakers, though they won three ABA titles in the 1970s before joining the NBA.
This year, Gilgeous-Alexander, also known as “SGA,” is aiming to become the first scoring champion to win an NBA title in the same season since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 — ironically, also against Indiana. SGA averaged 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds during the season, forming a powerful trio with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
The Thunder cruised past Memphis in the first round, edged out defending champions Denver in seven games, and eliminated Minnesota in five to reach the Finals.
Indiana’s road included series wins over Milwaukee and Cleveland (both in five games), and a hard-fought six-game victory against New York. Forward Pascal Siakam has been key, averaging 20.2 points and 6.9 rebounds, while Haliburton has provided 18.6 points and 9.2 assists per game, showcasing the playmaking that helped Team USA win Olympic gold in Paris.
“Haliburton’s confidence makes him a real threat,” Thunder forward Jalen Williams said. “You can never relax around him.”
During the regular season, OKC defeated Indiana twice, with Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 39 points per game, while Haliburton struggled to find his rhythm.
The Thunder have been a defensive force in the postseason, leading all teams in turnovers forced (18), steals (10.8), and opponent field goal percentage (42.6%). The Pacers, however, boast the top scoring average (117.4 points) and shooting accuracy — 49.7% from the field and 40.1% from beyond the arc.
Interestingly, both teams’ current cores were shaped by trading away Paul George. Indiana sent George to OKC in 2017 and later used assets from that deal to acquire Haliburton and draft Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard. The Thunder then dealt George to the Clippers in 2019, landing Gilgeous-Alexander and the draft pick used on Williams.
“This franchise believed in me when others didn’t,” Haliburton said of Indiana’s trust.
OKC also brings championship experience through Alex Caruso, a key piece in the Lakers’ 2020 title run. Indiana counters with Pascal Siakam, who helped Toronto win in 2019.
“You don’t need to be flashy — just be yourselves,” Caruso said of his championship mindset. “That’s what’s gotten us here.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, who led Dallas to the 2011 title, is now chasing history himself. A win would make him just the fourth coach in NBA history to win championships with multiple teams.
With both franchises hungry and riding waves of youthful energy, the 2025 NBA Finals promise to deliver a fresh and electrifying chapter in basketball history.
