The golden age of NBA parity is here

Also worth noting is that the new champion would either end a lengthy drought or hang an inaugural banner. While the Pacers (ABA) and Timberwolves have never won an NBA title, the Knicks and Thunder have endured title droughts lasting 52 and 46 years, respectively. 

While some believe parity is a healthy sign, others are convinced the league is better off when 29 teams chase a juggernaut. To the latter's benefit, the NBA witnessed a massive surge in interest when Michael Jordan's Bulls and Stephen Curry's Warriors ruled the roost.

Either way, NBA commissioner Adam Silver must be thrilled. In 2019, he said, "We should celebrate excellence" when asked about the Warriors and Cavaliers facing off in the Finals for four consecutive years, admitting that elite players, such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James, move the needle more than well-constructed teams. 

In what feels like a 180, teams are thriving over the stars in 2025. The teams with multiple superstars—the Lakers, Warriors, Bucks and Suns—will watch from afar while well-constructed rosters remain alive. The Pacers and Thunder, for example, play college-type, agenda-free basketball with deep rosters and an apathy for individual heroics. 

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton summed up that mindset after his team crushed the Cavaliers, 4-1, in the second round. 

"We're just different than every other team," he told The Athletic. "We don't just have one guy who scores all the points. We defeat teams in different ways. We move the ball. Got a lot of different guys making shots, making plays, but we've preached our depth for the last couple of years."

These playoffs will likely force teams to rethink their strategy of collecting superstars and instead focus on fostering a culture.