ESPN analyst offers high praise for Thunder after winning NBA title

Williams did not stop there, pointing to the the team's rebuild and its tenacious defense.

"I literally feel as if (general manager) Sam Presti has the best rebuild in the modern NBA era for what he's been able to put together with the Paul George trade, what he's been able to get by finding J-dub (Jalen Williams) with the 12th pick," Williams continued. "Chet Holmgren, sitting him out for a year, to put this roster construction together to lead to a championship. One of the best defensive teams we've seen historically, maybe top-five ever in the NBA, we have to give them their flowers off the top."

While the Haliburton injury was certainly heartbreaking to see on the biggest stage and in such a pivotal game, that should not take away from the incredible job head coach Mark Daigneault and the Thunder did this season.

Just two seasons ago, Oklahoma City finished 40-42 and failed to advance out of the Play-In Tournament. The two seasons prior, they won 24 games or less in each campaign.

The Thunder finished with 84 wins this season, tying Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls team in 1996-97 for the third most wins in NBA history.

Whether it be regular-season and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged a league-high 32.7 points per game, Jalen Williams, who scored a playoff career-high 40 points in Game 5 of the NBA Finals or Chet Holmgren, who nearly averaged a double-double (15 PPG, eight RPG) and shot 49% this season, the Thunder have constructed a team that should in the title mix for years to come.

As for the defense that Williams alluded to, the Thunder allowed a third-best 107.3 PPG this season, per TeamRankings. They topped that in Game 7 by only allowing 91 points, while the 7-footer Holmgren used his size to his advantage to produce a record-setting five blocks.

The young squad may have lost the battle with the champagne bottles during their post-game celebration, while some tasted beer for the first time. On the floor, they won a thrilling seven-game series and punctuated one of the most successful seasons in NBA history.