The Oklahoma City Thunder win their first NBA title in franchise history.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, holds up the MVP trophy as he celebrates with his team after they won the NBA basketball championship

Julio Cortez via AP Photos

The words "Game 7" hold immense significance in the world of sports. It’s the event where two teams compete, and one emerges victorious to claim the championship title. One will have the celebration, the thrill of that champagne pouring in the locker room in jubilation. The losing team feels despair. Distraught. Agony.

June 22, 2025, will be the day Oklahoma natives will remember forever. The Oklahoma City Thunder have won their first NBA title in franchise history! They defeated the upstart Indiana Pacers 103-91, led by their MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with a game-high 29 points along with five rebounds and 12 assists in an all-around performance.

He was assisted by his teammates Jalen Williams (20) and Chet Holmgren (18), who combined for 38 points in total, including five blocks that helped the Thunder secure their victory over the Pacers.

The game initially looked like it was going to be a classic. Tyrese Haliburton ignited the game with nine early first-quarter points, making three of his first four shots from three-point range. Subsequently, the Pacers encountered their greatest challenge.

Haliburton, already hampered by a strained calf he suffered in Game 5, crumpled to the ground with 4:55 remaining in the first after losing his balance attempting to attack the basket. Immediately, he slapped the floor in anguish and frustration, later reporting that he had torn his right Achilles tendon. It was a deflating blow to what was a riveting, compelling start for a win-or-take-all to win the title. 

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Despite Haliburton's injury, the Pacers maintained their momentum. They went into the half with a one-point lead on the Thunder after an Andrew Nembhard three that gave the Pacers belief they could pull off the upset. In the second half, Oklahoma City unleashed a powerful offensive display, scoring 34 points in the third quarter and shooting an impressive 12-of-26 from the field.

However, the Pacers remained resilient. The Pacers remained resilient, led by their relentless veteran backup point guard T.J. McConnell, who scored 12 of his 16 points in the third quarter. Pascal Siakam had 16, along with Bennedict Mathurin finishing with 24 and Nembhard with 15. It wasn’t enough.

The Thunder’s defensive pressure smothered the Pacers in the halfcourt throughout the game, allowing them to push their lead to as large as 22 points after Holmgren made a free throw with 7:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Indiana was able to cut it to within 12 with 4:11 to go, giving themselves a striking chance for a miraculous comeback. With 3:05 left to play, a McConnell turnover by Lu Dort effectively sealed the Thunder's victory, as they led by 12, and the crowd sensed the imminence of a championship.

"It doesn't feel real," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game. "So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It's crazy to know that we're all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours, and we deserve this."

The Thunder are the second-youngest team, with an average age of 24.6, to win a title. Only the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers, led by MVP Bill Walton, were younger. The Thunder became the first team in a decade to win the title with the league MVP, following the 2015 Golden State Warriors, who had an ascending Stephen Curry as their MVP. 

Despite being young, the Thunder displayed their utter dominance all season (including playoffs), posting a 19-2 record coming off a loss and a +259 playoff points differential at home. Both are NBA records.

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"They behave like champions. They compete like champions," coach Mark Daigneault said. "They root for each other's success, which is rare in professional sports. I've said it many times, and now I'm going to say it one more time. They are an uncommon team, and now they're champions."

They have come a long way from the seemingly bright future of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden to KD's tragic 2016 exit, the early playoff exits during Westbrook's solo years, and the disappointing second-round loss last year.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti, who has been in charge since the team relocated to Oklahoma in 07-08, has done a fantastic job constructing the team. Since arriving in Oklahoma City, the Thunder have the second most regular-season victories, behind only the Boston Celtics, and the fifth most postseason victories.

Despite all the success, a championship eluded the Thunder until this moment, a vision that Presti envisioned as they transitioned from the KD-Westbrook era to the next.

"In saying goodbye to the past, we have begun to chart our future," Presti wrote. "The next great Thunder team is out there somewhere, but it will take time to seize and discipline to ultimately sustain." 

 The Oklahoma City Thunder's recent championship adds to the NBA's golden era of parity, with seven consecutive different title winners and no repeat champion yet this decade. After enduring 17 long years of failures and disappointments, Oklahoma City can finally claim a championship as its own.