It was late June 2025 when the confetti finally hit the hardwood at Paycom Center, and honestly, the sight was a bit jarring. If you had told a casual fan three years ago that the Oklahoma City Thunder would be the ones hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in a Game 7 thriller, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. But that is exactly what happened. The Thunder are the ones who won the nba championship in 2025, marking the franchise's first title since moving from Seattle.
They didn't just win; they dominated. Finishing the regular season with a staggering 68-14 record, OKC proved that "the process" doesn't always have to take a decade. They faced off against the Indiana Pacers in a Finals matchup that, on paper, looked like a blowout waiting to happen. Indiana was a 50-win team that had scratched and clawed their way through a chaotic Eastern Conference. But as we’ve learned in this league, the "underdog" label is a dangerous thing to ignore.
How the Thunder Finally Did It
The series was a slugfest. It wasn't the pretty, high-flying offense people expected. By the time Game 7 rolled around on June 22, 2025, both teams were gassed. Defensive schemes had tightened up so much that every bucket felt like a miracle. Then, the unthinkable happened. Indiana’s heart and soul, Tyrese Haliburton, went down with a devastating Achilles injury late in the first quarter.
You could feel the air leave the building, even though it was an away game for the Pacers. Indiana actually led at the half—48-47—showing some serious grit. But then Shai Gilgeous-Alexander happened.
SGA didn't have a "statistically perfect" night. He shot 8-for-27. That’s ugly. But he got to the line, he facilitated, and he willed that team to a 103-91 victory. He finished with 29 points and 12 assists, clinching the Finals MVP and becoming the first player since Steph Curry in 2015 to win the regular-season MVP and the ring in the same year.
The Jalen Williams Factor
While Shai gets the headlines, Jalen Williams—or "J-Dub" as the fans call him—was the secret sauce. He was spectacular throughout the postseason. In the clincher, he chipped in 20 points, looking every bit like the All-NBA Third Team selection he had become. The guy shot nearly 45% from the field across the playoffs while playing lockdown defense. It’s rare to see a young core mesh this quickly, but OKC managed to skip the "growing pains" phase entirely.
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Why This Championship Changed the League
For years, the NBA was dominated by "Superteams." You had the LeBron Heat, the KD Warriors, and various other iterations of stars teaming up in big markets. The 2025 Finals was the first since 2006 where neither city had won a title before (in their current locations). It was also the first Finals in the modern salary cap era where neither team paid a dime in luxury tax.
Think about that for a second.
In a league where the Lakers and Warriors routinely spend hundreds of millions on tax bills, a small-market team like OKC won it all through draft picks and smart trades. This championship was a massive "I told you so" for Sam Presti. He turned the Paul George trade into a mountain of picks, one of which became Jalen Williams, and the centerpiece of which was SGA.
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A Record-Breaking Run
This win cemented the Thunder as one of the most successful regular-season teams ever. With 84 total wins (regular season plus playoffs), they joined the 90s Bulls as some of the only teams to hit that mark. They were the second-largest betting favorites in 20 years entering the Finals. And yet, the Pacers made them earn every single inch of that trophy.
Looking Back: The 2024 Context
To understand why 2025 was such a shock, you have to look at who won the NBA championship the year before. In 2024, it was the Boston Celtics. They dismantled the Dallas Mavericks in five games, securing their 18th title and moving past the Lakers for the most in history. Boston looked like a juggernaut. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally silenced the critics.
Most people assumed Boston would just roll through 2025 and start a dynasty. But the Pacers upset the Knicks, then took down the Cavs, and suddenly the East looked completely different. The parity in the league right now is insane. We’ve had seven different champions in seven years. That hasn't happened in nearly half a century.
What to Expect Next
We are currently midway through the 2025-26 season, and the Thunder aren't slowing down. As of January 17, 2026, they sit at 34-7. They are on pace to match last year’s 68-win record. SGA is once again the frontrunner for MVP, and Chet Holmgren is emerging as a defensive monster, averaging nearly two blocks a game.
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But the competition is closing in. The San Antonio Spurs, led by a terrifyingly improved Victor Wembanyama, have already beaten the Thunder three times this season. The New York Knicks just won the In-Season NBA Cup. The era of OKC dominance is here, but it's not going to be a cake walk.
If you're looking to keep up with the current season, keep an eye on the Western Conference standings. The gap between the first and fourth seeds is narrower than it looks.
Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Spurs vs. Thunder Rematch: Their February meeting will likely determine the top seed in the West.
- Track the Injury Reports: With Haliburton still recovering from his Achilles tear, the Eastern Conference remains wide open for a new contender like the Knicks or a revamped Bucks squad.
- Check the 2026 All-Star Votes: Shai and Wemby are currently neck-and-neck for the top spot in the West, which says everything about where the league is heading.
The 2025 Thunder proved that you don't need a massive market or a $300 million payroll to reach the mountain top. You just need a plan, a bit of luck, and a superstar who doesn't blink in Game 7.