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OKC is A-OK: 80 wins before Finals will equal a Larry O’Brien trophy for Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have done more than just win the Western Conference; they’ve reached rarified air.
Wednesday’s 124-94 rout of the Minnesota Timberwolves to clinch the West wasn’t just another win. It was their 80th victory before the Finals even tip-off.
THE THUNDER ARE HEADING TO THE NBA FINALS
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 29, 2025
Oklahoma City is the fourth team in NBA history to reach 80 wins before the Finals:
◽️2024-25 Oklahoma City Thunder (80)
◽️2015-16 Golden State Warriors (88)
◽️1995-96 Chicago Bulls (87)
◽️1996-97 Chicago Bulls (84) pic.twitter.com/ZWcf2QEywk
That's a feat that matches only three prior teams: the 1995-96 (87 wins) and 1996-97 (84) Chicago Bulls and 2015-16 (88) Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors fell short of winning the Larry O’Brien trophy, but the Thunder won’t. Here are five reasons why this Thunder team is about to make history.
1. SGA is unstoppable
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff journey hasn’t been flawless ( think a tough shooting night in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals despite 40 points). But ultimately, that won’t be the narrative.
Instead, it will be about SGA becoming the first Canadian to win the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award and making history as the first three-time MVP in the same season: regular season, WCF and NBA Finals.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander so far this season:
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) May 29, 2025
- MVP
- 1st Team All-NBA
- WCF MVP
- Scoring Title
- All-Star
One of the greatest guard seasons in NBA history and it isn’t finished yet. pic.twitter.com/vzVjubTJ7l
While legends like Michael Jordan or LeBron James might have swept similar honors during their prime, the Conference Finals MVP award is new (established in 2022), positioning SGA for a unique first.
One thing is clear: A Thunder title with SGA as Finals MVP cements him as the greatest player in franchise history (sorry, Kevin Durant).
2. Perfect supporting cast
JALEN WILLIAMS ONE-HAND SLAM‼️ pic.twitter.com/0BIcpGOZZo
— ESPN (@espn) April 20, 2025
Beyond SGA’s MVP engine, the elite development of Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren is crucial.
Williams dominated the WCF (22.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.0 SPG, 49% shooting), while Holmgren’s unique rim protection (1.6 BPG) and three-point shooting (38% on three-pointers) make OKC incredibly difficult to defend, with both capable of taking over stretches.
Add in Lu Dort’s bulldog perimeter defense, Aaron Wiggins' efficient scoring, Isaiah Hartenstein’s interior presence and passing and Alex Caruso’s championship DNA and veteran savvy, and this cast can seamlessly fill gaps, execute perfectly and apply relentless defensive pressure — all key ingredients for any NBA title.
3. Clear coaching advantage
Mark Daigneault, the 2024 Coach of the Year, reached an even higher level this season, guiding the team to 68 wins in the regular season.
His ability to maximize talent within a fluid system, combined with sharp game-to-game adjustments, gives OKC a significant sideline advantage. The WCF adjustments after a big Game 3 loss, leading to wins in Games 4 and 5, exemplify that.
This culture of accountability and improvement will ultimately pay off in the Finals.
4. They match up well against the East
OKC went 29-1 against eastern conference. Just a note for Pacers or Knicks to ponder
— Mark Champion (@nbamark) May 29, 2025
Whether facing the likely Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks, OKC’s historic 29-1 record against the East (including a perfect 4-0 slate against both those teams) speaks volumes.
This dominance surpasses the previous 27-3 inter-conference record held by three teams: the 2015-16 Warriors, 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks and 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers.
While the regular season isn’t everything, a stunning +17.6 average margin of victory against the East strongly suggests OKC is primed for Finals success.
5. It’s just their time
Though the 2015-16 Warriors are a cautionary tale for “better on paper” teams, this Thunder squad screams destiny.
The franchise technically has one championship with the Seattle Supersonics in 1979. However, after 17 years in OKC marked by heartbreaks like the 2012 Finals loss, this dominant Thunder squad seems poised to finally deliver that parade.
More must-reads:
- Thunder become youngest team to reach NBA Finals since 1977 Trail Blazers
- Anthony Edwards got exposed against Thunder
- The 'Teammates with 30+ points in one NBA Conference Finals game' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Former NBA MVP could be nearing the end of his career
For the past two seasons, Joel Embiid has been dealing with a knee issue. The former MVP underwent surgery in April to try to repair his meniscus, the second time he's received such surgery in the past 12 months. Embiid recently sat down for a tell-all interview with ESPN's Dotun Akintoye, where he detailed the struggles his body is currently going through. "We're not going to push anything," Embiid said. "For my whole career, I felt like we never took that approach ... We don't have a timeline. Hopefully, sooner rather than later ... It's all about the results ... If I come back early enough and I'm still not myself, guess what? You're not winning any games." Embiid's struggles have left the Sixers in a precarious situation. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey has built the entire roster around the star center's unique skill set. Philadelphia has constructed a team to go as far as Embiid can take it. It makes sense, then, that Embiid is just as frustrated with his injury-induced absences as the rest of the Sixers fanbase. In a July 27 appearance on Sirius XM Radio, Sixers beat writer Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer shared a unique take on the big man's recent interview and the messaging he's been putting out recently. "I think Joel may know that the end is near, and this is just me saying, and it's kind of like explaining to people what he's been going through," Pompey said. "Because rarely do you have a guy tell you how much pain (they're in) and how much they're going through. The thing I took from it was no matter who is there, the culture is the same. And I feel like Joel Embiid knows that it may not be this season, but the end is near. Maybe he feels as though he can't play to the level he used to. I could be wrong. He could come out and have another MVP season. But that was my takeaway." Embiid is probably one more lost season away from making such a difficult decision. He's only suited up for 58 games over the past two seasons, 39 in 2023-24 and 19 in 2024-25. Embiid doesn't project as the sort of player who would accept a decline while still cashing enormous checks that limit his team's ability to compete. The problem for Embiid is that injuries are only half the battle. Even when healthy, conditioning has been his Achilles heel. So, not only would he need to stay injury-free, both with his knee and his back, but he would also need to get into the best shape of his life. Anything less, and the Sixers could be doomed to repeat their failures of the past. Embiid is still working his way through a long road of recovery. However, he may also be coming to terms that the NBA chapter of his life is on the final few pages, and that must be a daunting reality to face.
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Steelers' Troy Fautanu Admits To Internal Beef That Has Been Obvious Throughout Training Camp
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been easing their way into training camp ahead of the 2025 season. The players have just been wearing helmets and shorts, and the pads will come on soon. Pittsburgh's training camp is always known as being one of the most intense in the league, and that is because Head Coach Mike Tomlin has his team go full contact, which is something other coaches around the NFL try to avoid. The pads will come on on Tuesday, and fans should expect to see some skirmishes as emotions rise throughout the rest of camp. Practices in just helmets and shorts are difficult for the big guys in the trenches. It is essentially impossible to simulate blocking without pads on, so the defenders and offensive linemen are itching for when the team gets to go full contact. Second-year offensive lineman Troy Fautanu spoke to the media on Sunday, and he shared how things have been going at practice, while also noting that the two sides of the ball have been going at it. "You know, there's a lot of banter going on between the offense and the defense right now." Fautanu said. "As you guys could tell yesterday, things got a little rowdy. I mean, that's something that's normal. I'm super excited just to finally be able to play real football, because as an offensive lineman it's the worst thing to play football in shorts and t-shirts." Fautanu is probably itching to get back to full contact more than others after missing nearly all of his rookie season in 2024. He played in one game in Week 2 before suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the year. Tuesday will be the first time he gets to put the pads on and get truly physical in nearly a year. The way he described things, it sounds like there will probably be some confrontations as the offense and defense have already been going at it. Training camp is going to be a true test for Fautanu. He is the team's starting right tackle going into the season, and the organization is relying on the offensive line to take a step forward. He needs to try to live up to his first-round label, and he is going to have to do so while blocking TJ Watt in every practice. Watt is going to be moving around the defensive formation more often than usual, but most of his snaps will come when he is lined up over the right tackle. Fautanu is going to be tested on every snap, and if he can handle Watt, he can handle anyone in the league. Having to go up against Watt every day in practice is good for Fautanu in the long run. Practicing against the best is only going to make him better, and he won't have to block anyone during the 2025 regular season that is as good of a pass rusher as Watt. Steelers' Fautanu Could Solidify 2024 Draft For Pittsburgh It is already looking like the Steelers made a ton of right decisions during the 2024 NFL Draft. Zach Frazier had a spectacular rookie season in 2024, and he is looking like he could be one of the best centers in the league. Mason McCormick was a pleasant surprise at right tackle when he was thrust into the starting lineup, and it seems he has gotten considerably better over the course of the 2025 offseason. If Fautanu can prove he is the starting right tackle of the future for the Steelers, then the organization would have nailed three cornerstones of the franchise in just one draft. All contenders have solid offensive lines, and it looks like the Steelers might have one that could be great in the near future.
Matthew Golden receives nickname and comparison from Packers assistant coach that will leave fans salivating to watch him play
The 4'2 40-yard dash and the speed Matthew Golden shows on tape were big motivators for the Green Bay Packers to finally select a wide receiver in the first round after 23 years. In the first week of training camp, his smoothness to run routes is evident, and his quickness to explode from the line of scrimmage catches the attention of everyone around him. Assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is no different. He likes to give players nicknames based on profile comparison, and Golden has already received his: Bob Hayes, the Bullet, a former star Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers receiver who was an All-Pro three times in the 1960s and won two gold medals in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on track and field. Hayes, who passed away in 2002, one year before Matthew Golden was born, is the only person to win both a Super Bowl title and an Olympic gold medal. "[Bisaccia] told me to look him up. I looked him up and I saw he was real fast," Golden said in the locker room. "So he gave me that nickname." Bob Hayes played for the Cowboys from 1965 through 1974. He was a First-Team All-Pro in 1966 and 1968, a Second-Team All-Pro in 1967, and a Pro Bowler in those three years. With speed as his calling card, he was the NFL receiving touchdowns leader in 1965 and 1966. It's impossible to know how close Matthew Golden will be to that amazing career, but this is an answer the Packers don't need right now. So far, the early signs are as promising as they could be. "For any of these guys coming in for the first time, you don't know the opportunities that are going to be presented to each player, and then they’ve got to respond," general manager Brian Gutekunst said earlier this week. "We think he's got a chance to certainly make an impact for our football team. I think it's going to be a competitive group. But again, we took him where we took him for a reason. At the same time, he's a third-year college kid. He has two years at Houston, one year at Texas. So far, so good." Part of the appeal for the Packers was Golden's positional versatility. In his lone season at Texas, the wide receiver played 664 snaps outside, 175 in the slot, and even 12 in the backfield. "It's easier initially to start with a primary position, but really it's about how much they can handle," head coach Matt LaFleur explained. "The more he shows he can handle, that will naturally occur. We've done a nice job, [passing game coordinator Jason] Vrable and [wide receivers coach Ryan] Mahaffey do a really good job training these guys. We always try to teach concepts and where you fit within the concept. The more a player proves he can handle that and move around, the more opportunities he gets." Matthew Golden has shown he can impact the offense right away. As fast as he is on the field.
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