May 13, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrate after a scoring against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter of game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Nine-Year NBA Veteran Predicts Most Important Player in Thunder-Pacers Finals

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 2:42 PM ET

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are set to kick off the NBA Finals with a big Game 1 matchup on Thursday night, both coming off impressive Conference Finals showings.

The Thunder were prominently led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Pacers' dynamic duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam dominated the New York Knicks.

However, on the biggest stage in the NBA Finals, it will likely come down to who has the better supporting cast.

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Nine-year NBA veteran and former Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons revealed who he thinks the most important players of the Finals will be for each team.

"As good as Jalen Williams has been, he's going to have a lot of pressure on his plate to get the job done when they do take the ball out of SGA's hands. So I think for the Thunder, it's got to be Jalen Williams," Parsons said. "...For the Pacers, it's got to be Myles Turner. I think he's the guy that can really expand their offense."

Jalen Williams & Myles Turner are the most important players in the Finals

"When the Pacers blitz SGA...Williams has got to be the guy. ... When OKC does the same to Haliburton...Myles Turner & Co. have to hit shots." - @ChandlerParsons @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/ixzVOxwftN
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 5, 2025

Williams was a first-time All-Star this season, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and the Thunder certainly need him to continue to step up as a second option to Gilgeous-Alexander.

Turner has played all ten years of his NBA career in Indiana, and it has finally paid off with a trip to the Finals. While Turner is not as vital to the Pacers as Haliburton or Siakam, they will need him to be consistent on both sides of the ball to take down the powerhouse Thunder.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: