If you blinked, you might have missed it, but the NBA landscape looks completely different than it did even eighteen months ago. If you're wondering who was in the nba championship last year, you aren't looking at the usual suspects like the Lakers or the Warriors.
The 2025 NBA Finals gave us a matchup that almost nobody saw coming back in October. It was the Oklahoma City Thunder facing off against the Indiana Pacers.
Yep. OKC and Indy.
It was a seven-game war that ended with the Thunder lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time since the franchise moved from Seattle. Honestly, seeing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hold that MVP trophy felt like a "passing of the torch" moment for the entire league.
Why the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers Matchup Mattered
For years, people have been waiting for the "next generation" to actually take over. We've had a few years where the old guard still lingered, but 2025 was the year the door finally slammed shut on the LeBron and Steph era of dominance.
The Thunder came in as the heavy favorites. They had a regular-season record of 68-14. That's not just good; it's historic. Mark Daigneault basically built a defensive machine that forced teams into mistakes they didn't even know they were making.
On the other side, you had the Pacers.
💡 You might also like: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
They were the ultimate "nobody believed in us" team. Rick Carlisle had them playing at a pace that made most opponents dizzy. They weren't supposed to beat the Knicks in the Conference Finals, and they definitely weren't supposed to take OKC to seven games.
But they did.
The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Factor
It’s hard to overstate how good Shai was. He didn't just win the Finals MVP; he won the regular-season MVP and the scoring title too. To put that in perspective, the last guy to do that in the same season was Stephen Curry back in 2016, and before that, you’re looking at Shaquille O'Neal.
He averaged 30.3 points per game in the series.
But it wasn't just the scoring. It was the way he controlled the rhythm. He’s got this "slow-fast" style that makes defenders like Aaron Nesmith look like they're sliding on ice.
A Game-by-Game Breakdown of the Chaos
The series started on June 5, 2025, and it was a rollercoaster from the jump.
📖 Related: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
- Game 1: Indiana shocked everyone. Tyrese Haliburton hit a game-winning jumper to steal home-court advantage with a 111-110 win.
- Game 2: OKC woke up. Shai dropped 34, and the Thunder cruised to a 123-107 victory to tie it.
- Game 3: Back in Indy, the Pacers' crowd was deafening. Bennedict Mathurin came off the bench like a man possessed, leading Indiana to a 116-107 win.
- Game 4: This was the turning point. OKC's Chet Holmgren had 15 rebounds and a handful of blocks that demoralized the Pacers' interior scoring. Thunder won 111-104.
- Game 5: Jalen Williams (or "J-Dub" as the fans call him) went for a career-high 40 points. Thunder took a 3-2 lead.
- Game 6: Indiana refused to die. Pascal Siakam played his best game of the series, forcing a Game 7 with a 108-91 blowout.
The Heartbreak of Game 7
Game 7s are usually about who has the most grit. This one was going that way until about five minutes into the first quarter.
Tyrese Haliburton, who had been the engine for Indiana all season, went down with a non-contact injury. You could hear a pin drop in the arena when he slapped the floor in pain. It turned out to be a torn right Achilles.
Even without their leader, the Pacers actually led 48-47 at halftime. It was gutty. It was inspiring.
But eventually, the talent gap and the depth of the Thunder was too much. OKC outscored them by 14 in the third quarter. Shai finished with 29 points and 12 assists, and when the final buzzer sounded at 103-91, Oklahoma City was finally on top of the basketball world.
Surprising Details You Might Have Forgotten
Most people remember the trophy, but the 2025 Finals set some weird records.
First, it was the smallest TV market matchup in NBA history. Indianapolis and Oklahoma City aren't exactly New York or LA. Despite that, the ratings were surprisingly high because people wanted to see the "new" NBA.
👉 See also: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
Second, it was the first time since 2006 that both teams in the Finals were looking for their first-ever championship in their current cities.
Also, the Thunder are now the second-youngest team to ever win a title. The only team younger was the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers.
What This Means for the Future
If you're following the league now, you see the ripple effects of who was in the nba championship last year.
The Pacers proved that a high-octane, pass-first offense can still win in the playoffs if you have the right pieces. Even with Haliburton's injury, they've set a blueprint for "small market" success.
For the Thunder, they’ve officially arrived. With Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and SGA all in their prime or approaching it, we might be looking at the start of a dynasty.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the Tape: If you missed Game 5, go find the highlights of Jalen Williams. It was one of the most efficient 40-point performances in Finals history.
- Monitor Injuries: Keep an eye on Tyrese Haliburton’s recovery. An Achilles tear is a 12-month journey, and how he returns will determine if Indiana stays a contender.
- Check the Cap: Look at the Thunder’s roster. Most of these guys are still on relatively team-friendly deals, but the "bill" is coming due soon. How they manage their salary cap in the next two years will be a masterclass in front-office management.
The 2025 Finals weren't just a series; they were a signal that the NBA has officially moved into a new era.