NBA conference finals matchups guarantee end of a long title drought 

Standing in this Thunder team's way is Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. While Edwards has made Minnesota a perennial contender since his arrival as the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves will now play in only the franchise's third conference finals ever. 

And after falling to the Dallas Mavericks one year ago, Edwards is battle-tested and ready to lead the Timberwolves to their first-ever trip to the NBA Finals, an achievement that would help cement his place as one of the new faces of the league. 

Over in the East, basketball fans are going to be treated to an old-school series between two fan bases starving for a parade. 

The New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. And just like in 2000, 1999 and 1994 before that, the Knicks will meet the rival Indiana Pacers with the NBA Finals on the line. 

Ironically enough, the last time the Pacers were in the NBA Finals was 2000 after defeating New York. The Knicks' last NBA Finals was the final one of the previous century in 1999. But neither team won in those years, or any year since 1973. 

The Knicks' last championship came 52 years ago. And even though the Pacers have never won an NBA title, their title drought is technically the same length of time. Indiana was also a champion in 1973, capturing the Pacers' last ABA championship before the NBA-ABA merger in 1976. 

But the past is the past, and this season's Knicks and Pacers have proved themselves to be worthy of their new opportunity.

Jalen Brunson lifted New York to a shocking second round series win over the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games. Indiana knocked out the East's top seed Cleveland Cavaliers in convincing fashion in five. 

So now regardless of which teams end up battling it out in the NBA Finals, the matchup and eventual champion is guaranteed to be historic. A long title drought is destined to go down this summer one way or another, making this postseason memorable and one for the history books.