On Sunday, June 22, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched their first-ever NBA championship by defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the Finals on their home court. The Thunder franchise, in its 17th season since relocating from Seattle in 2008 (formerly the Seattle SuperSonics), finally captured the title of basketball champions of the U.S. and Canada.
Thirteen years ago, the Thunder were favorites to win the championship, led by their superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. However, they were swept in the Finals by the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, losing the series 4-1.
Dominance from Start to Finish
This year, luck finally smiled on Oklahoma City. But to be honest, they didn’t really need luck — they played at an incredibly high level: consistent, creative, and exciting basketball that thrilled their fans. Throughout the season, the Thunder showcased textbook defense, roster depth, and excellent team chemistry. On offense, they pushed a fast pace and moved the ball precisely, scoring from all areas on the court — especially from long range and mid-range shots. Defensively, their disciplined play suffocated opponents and turned steals into easy points.
In the regular season, they finished with the best record in the league at 68-14 — the best in franchise history and the fifth-best in NBA history. In the playoffs, the Thunder showed no mercy: they swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in the first round, defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 in the conference semifinals, narrowly edged out the Denver Nuggets 4-3 in a tough conference finals, and ultimately beat the Pacers 4-3 in the NBA Finals.
Roster — The Key to Success
The roster executed their roles brilliantly. In the playoffs, point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 29.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Small forward Jalen Williams contributed 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Power forward Chet Holmgren posted 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. Shooter Luguentz Dort averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 assists, while center Isaiah Hartenstein added 8.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
The importance of roster depth was clear. Shooting guard Alex Caruso, coming off the bench, averaged 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2 steals per game. Holmgren led the team in blocks with 1.9 per game. Key contributions also came from shooters Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, Isaiah Joe, and Ajay Mitchell. This was a true team effort — 23 players contributed throughout the playoffs.
The Phenomenal SGA
Though the entire team contributed, the biggest star and future NBA icon was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). He finished the regular season with the most games scoring 20+ points (75 games), 30+ points (49 games), 40+ points (13 games), and 50+ points (4 games). His streak of 72 consecutive games scoring at least 20 points is the longest since the 1960s, trailing only basketball legends Wilt Chamberlain (80 games) and Oscar Robertson (76 games). SGA rightfully earned the league MVP award for the regular season.
In Game 1 of the Finals, he scored 38 points — the third-best debut performance in Finals history. He scored a combined 72 points in the first two Finals games, a record. In Game 5, he posted 31 points, 10 assists, and 4 blocks, extending his streak to 12 consecutive playoff games with 30+ points and 5+ assists, breaking records previously held by LeBron James and Michael Jordan.
SGA became only the fourth player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and scoring title in the same year. He is the 12th player to score over 3,000 points in combined regular season and playoff games. At just 26 years old, he’s also the first Canadian to win the Finals MVP.
Game 7 Highlights
A Dramatic Finals Series
This year’s Finals was the first since 2016 to go the full seven games. It was a highly competitive, dramatic series full of twists. The Pacers led 1-0, then 2-1; the Thunder took a 3-2 lead, only for Indiana to tie it 3-3. But in the decisive Game 7, the Thunder triumphed by 12 points.
Oklahoma City might not have won the final game if not for a major injury to Indiana’s best player, Tyrese Haliburton, early in the first quarter. Haliburton was the Finals’ breakout star, scoring game-tying or go-ahead baskets in the final five seconds of four games. Yet, in Game 7, he played only seven minutes but still managed 9 points (three three-pointers). Haliburton had already been playing injured, having strained his right calf in Game 5. Unfortunately, he ruptured his Achilles tendon and now faces a long and difficult recovery, possibly missing the entire next season.
The Pacers didn’t give up easily. They led 48-47 at halftime but struggled without their primary playmaker. In the third quarter, they turned the ball over seven times and fell behind by 13 points entering the final period. Oklahoma City extended the lead to 22 in the fourth quarter, finishing the game 103-91. This was the fewest points the Thunder scored in the playoffs, reflecting Indiana’s strong defensive effort, although it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Key Pacers contributors included shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin, power forward Pascal Siakam, and point guards Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell.
Indiana reached the NBA Finals for only the second time, their first since 2000, when they lost to the Lakers. A pivotal moment was Game 4, when the Pacers squandered a chance to take a 3-1 lead, losing 111-104 at their home court despite a seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Controversial Officiating
The Finals were marred by inconsistent and questionable refereeing, which many fans criticized as biased. Some accused officials of “stealing” Game 5 in favor of Oklahoma City. One fan tweeted, “I’m done with @NBA. It’s clear the refs favor OKC. *crew you and your rigged Finals.” Others claimed the league wanted a Game 7 to boost ratings and revenue, writing, “Tell me @NBA wants seven games without actually saying it. OKC could have swept Indiana, but here we are. Shameless officiating and sports commercialization.” Despite the controversies, the Thunder’s hard-earned title stands.
NBA Championship Trophy Presentation
Oklahoma City’s Future Dominance?
This season could mark the beginning of Oklahoma City’s dominance in the league. The team is very young — the youngest to ever win an NBA title in 48 seasons. The dynasty around SGA could last for years, as all key players are in their mid-20s. On the other hand, if Indiana keeps its core intact, they could go far next season, though Haliburton’s rehab will be a major challenge.
Author: Matija Šerić
