The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to compete against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA Finals, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2025 NBA Finals MVP status drawing strong attention. Oklahoma City earned home court advantage due to having the league’s best regular-season record, positioning them favorably as the series begins.
The Thunder secured their spot in the Finals after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs. This marks Oklahoma City’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2012, when they faced the Miami Heat but fell in five games. That same year, NBA legend LeBron James captured both the regular season MVP and Finals MVP awards, a rare double that no player has achieved since.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Rise to MVP Contender
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s star point guard, won the MVP Award this season. If Oklahoma City goes on to win the NBA Finals and Gilgeous-Alexander claims the Finals MVP, he will become only the 11th player in history to earn both honors in the same season. Sports analyst Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report is confident this scenario will unfold.
The Pacers’ home games will be competitive, but OKC is going to cap off this championship run with a sweep,
Bailey wrote.
And SGA will be on stage after Game 4, hoisting a Finals MVP that will cement this as one of the best team and individual seasons ever.
—Andy Bailey, Sports Analyst
During the regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with an average of 32.7 points per game and topped the total points chart. His scoring dominance continued in the 2025 Western Conference playoffs, where he averaged 29.8 points per game and earned the Western Conference Finals MVP Award.
NBA Finals Kick Off and What Lies Ahead
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers is scheduled for Thursday. As the series begins, all eyes will focus on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his potential to join the ranks of NBA greats like LeBron James by securing both the regular season and Finals MVP awards in the same year. This achievement would highlight an extraordinary championship run and further elevate Gilgeous-Alexander’s standing in NBA history.