Oklahoma City Thunder Clinch 2025 NBA Championship

The NBA season came to a close Sunday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 to clinch the franchise’s first-ever NBA title. This title marked the seventh straight year the NBA has crowned a different champion. A run of parity that the league hasn’t seen since the 1970s. The Thunder also became the youngest team to win an NBA title since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers, and the second youngest ever, behind that same Blazers championship squad.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Named Finals MVP

Before this season, only three players in NBA history had won league MVP, regular season scoring title, and Finals MVP in the same season. After Sunday night, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only other players to accomplish this monumental feat. The NBA MVP averaged 30 points and 6 assists per game in the penultimate series, including a 29-point and 12-assist outing in Game 7 to push Oklahoma City over the championship finish line.

Historic Thunder Defense Leads Championship Charge

As legendary college football coach Paul Bryant once said “Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships,” and this Oklahoma City Thunder team embodied this phrase throughout this season. They finished the regular season with the No. 1 rated defense in the league and continued to flex that ranking this entire postseason. The Thunder were able to force their opponents to turnover the ball over 18 times per game in the playoffs, which is the most in a single playoff since the 1996 Chicago Bulls.

What’s Next For the Thunder?

While it’s too early to begin talks of a potential dynasty, the Thunder are in a prime position to compete for a championship next season and beyond. Every member of Oklahoma City’s championship team’s core is currently under contract heading into next season, with the team also holding options on both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

The key for the Thunder will be in their contract talks with their star players in SGA and J-Dub, as both players are eligible to sign massive extensions this offseason. Even though both players have a year left on their current contract, a contract extension for only one or both players will lay the groundwork for the Thunder’s championship hopes for years to come. Regardless, expect Oklahoma City to run it back with this championship squad next season.