Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifts the MVP trophy.
Photo: AFP Agency
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After winning the seventh game from final 103 to 91 to the Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder consecrated this Sunday as the new NBA champion.
It is his first ring since the franchise moved to Oklahoma, although its history records a previous title, when they were still the Seattle Supersonics in 1979. The title arrived in front of its audience, in a completely full stadium, turned into a storm. The emotion was total, although the history of the game was also marked by a sad fact: Tyrese Haliburton's injury in the first quarter was a blow that Indiana could never recover.
The story of Oklahoma City Thunder began in 1967 as Seattle Supersonics, a franchise born in the middle of the technological boom of the Boeing era. Based on Seattle for more than forty years, the team reached glory in 1979, before moving to Oklahoma City in 2008 after disputes for the financing of a new stadium. In his new stage, El Thunder lived brilliant years with figures like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, reaching the finals in 2012, when they fell to the Miami Heat of LeBron James. After Durant's departure in 2016, Westbrook held the team with historical performances, but without success in the playoffs. In 2019, a youth -based reconstruction, long -term vision and multiple draft selections began. The axis of everything would be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who would end up being the MVP of the final.
And Shai fulfilled. At 26, Gilgeous-Alexander, MVP of the season, reached its final consecration. Undisputed leader of a team as young as ambitious, the Canadian was the soul of the Thunder in these playoffs.
In the decisive game, he owned the court: he played 40 minutes, scored 29 points and distributed 12 assists. He was accompanied by Jalen Williams, offensive figure with 20 units, and Chet Holmgren, who dominated the boards with 18 points and eight rebounds. They also contributed from the defense and order of key men such as Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso, and from the bank, Cason Wallace was a necessary spark with 10 decisive points.
Oklahoma, the best team of the year
Although the Pacers took the series to the seventh game, something that did not happen in the finals since 2016, when the LeBron Cavaliers traced a 3-1 to the Warriors from Curry, Oklahoma was always the favorite. The Thunder traveled a historical season, winning 68 games, with a differential of +12.9 points per game, a figure that broke a record that had more than five decades. His domain was absolute: he took 16 advantage games to the second classified in the west and achieved the sixth best record in the NBA history. His collective performance was a mixture of youth energy, strategy and technical leadership of Mark Daigneault, who consolidated a competitive culture from reconstruction.
In the playoffs, they passed over almost all rivals. The one that cost them the most were the Denver Nuggets, who won 4-3, and in the conference finals they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1. They arrived with intact confidence, and although Indiana complicated their lives, they never lost faith. The title was no accident, it was the confirmation of a season of excellence.
Haliburton, low key in the final
The seven game began even, as the entire series had been. However, everything changed to the closing of the first quarter. Tyrese Haliburton, star base of the Pacers, suffered a serious injury. The player dragged discomfort from the fifth game and, although the doctors recommended not to play the sixth, Haliburton did it. This Sunday, the effort was invoiced. A few minutes after hot, Haliburton fell to the ground without contact, visibly sore. In the absence of official diagnosis, everything indicates that it suffered a breakage of the Achilles tendon.
The casualty was a mazozo. Even so, Indiana fought. He remained in a game until the break, with just a disadvantage point (49-48). It had better percentages from the perimeter (50% of triples compared to 19% of the Thunder), but paid expensive in rebounds, losses and general efficiency.
The third quarter closed the historic title to Oklahoma
Everything changed in the third quarter. Oklahoma clenched the accelerator and overwhelmed with a partial of 34-20. The transitions were faster, the triples finally entered, and the Pacers began to accuse the absence of Haliburton. The thrust of the fans was felt: each point was a roar. Each defensive rebound, a message of authority. Jalen Williams and Holmgren took prominence, while Shai continued to handle the threads with the calm of a veteran.
For the beginning of the last quarter, the score reflected a difficult advantage to overcome. Indiana tried, but did not have enough energy or bench. The Thunder's closet fund was deeper, more decisive. Alex Caruso scored 10 fundamental points, Wallace brought order and defense, Dort did the usual dirty job. On the other side, Siakam (16 points), McConnell (16 points) and Nembhard (15) did what they could, but did not suffice.
In the last quarter, Oklahoma administered time. He lowered the pace, moved the ball, and let the clock consume the fate. The public, who had dreamed with this moment since 2008, began to celebrate it even before the end. Tears fell into the stands. The Thunder, finally, was champion.
A title that unites them in history
With the consecration of Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA adds 21 champion franchises in its history. Boston Celtics continues to the top with 18 titles, followed by Los Angeles Lakers (17). Behind the Warriors (7), Bulls (6), Spurs (5), Pistons, Heat and 76ers (3), Rockets, Knicks and Bucks (2). Oklahoma enters the group of those who have one, along with Trail Blazers, Kings, Hawks, Wizards, Mavericks, Cavaliers, Raptors and Nuggets. However, the Thunder's ring has a special flavor: it represents the culmination of a patient project, which he reconstructed with intelligence after the departure of his superstars. They had won before, yes, like Supersonics. However, this is the first with its new name, its new city, its new story.
NBA Palmarés – Champions teams
- Boston Celtics – 18 titles
- Los Angeles Lakers – 17 titles
- Golden State Warriors – 7 titles
- Chicago Bulls – 6 titles
- San Antonio Spurs – 5 titles
- Detroit Pistons – 3 titles
- Miami Heat – 3 titles
- Philadelphia 76ers – 3 titles
- Houston Rockets – 2 titles
- New York Knicks – 2 titles
- Milwaukee Bucks – 2 titles
- Baltimore Bullets (extinct) – 1 title
- Portland Trail Blazers – 1 title
- Rochester Royals (hoy Sacramento Kings) – 1 title
- Seattle SuperSonics (hoy Oklahoma City Thunder) – 1 title
- Oklahoma City Thunder – 1 title (2025)
- St. John the Baptist. Louis Hawks (Hoy Atlanta Hawks) – 1 title
- Washington Bullets (hoy Washington Wizards) – 1 title
- Dallas Mavericks – 1 title
- Cleveland Cavaliers – 1 title
- Toronto Raptors – 1 title
- Denver Nuggets – 1 title
A legend that begins to be written
There are moments that separate the great players from the immortals. What Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did this season seems to be one of them. It was the best throughout the year. The MVP was taken in the regular, in the conference finals and in the final series. In the most important match of his life, he did not fail. He was leader, executor, facilitator, heart and soul. At 26, with his first title and a narrative that barely begins, Shai enters the conversation of the greats of this new generation.
At the other end of the story, Tyrese Haliburton leaves a painful chapter. It was his season. Its consolidation. And a cruel injury separated him from the most important party of his career.
The 2024-25 season of the NBA ended. With the bustle still vibrating in Oklahoma, with the fireworks on the roof of the stadium, with the wet eyes of thousands that have been waiting since the time of Durant and Westbrook. The Thunder is champion. Shai is champion. And from today, the history of the NBA has a new chapter written in blue and lightning letters.
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