The 2025 NBA Finals presents a compelling matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, a series notable for featuring the youngest combined average age for finalists in nearly half a century. The eventual champion will boast the lowest average age of any NBA title winner since 1980, a testament not only to skilled young rosters but also to the evolving financial landscape of the league, shaped significantly by the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and its new second apron rule, which complicates long-term dynastic ambitions for teams reliant on veteran cores.

The youthfulness of these teams is a cornerstone of their financial health. The Oklahoma City Thunder, with an average age of 24.7 years (weighted by playoff minutes, as of February 1st), are only slightly older than the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers (24.5 years). The Indiana Pacers are also young, with an average age of 26.2 years. Beyond the 1977 Blazers, only the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers (25.7 years) were younger champions since the NBA/ABA merger. This youth translates to manageable payrolls: the Pacers' total payroll for 2025 is $169.1 million (18th in the NBA), while the Thunder's is $165.6 million (25th). Crucially, both teams operate below the luxury tax threshold of $170.8 million. This marks the first NBA Finals in two decades where neither participating team paid the luxury tax, a significant deviation from the norm where 14 of the last 18 champions incurred tax penalties.

This financial prudence is enabled by major contributions from players on cost-effective rookie-scale contracts. For the Thunder, All-Star Jalen Williams earned a mere $4.8 million this year, and fellow starter Chet Holmgren contributed significantly on a $10.9 million salary. Similarly, the Pacers' Andrew Nembhard, a second-round pick and their third-leading player in playoff minutes, was paid just $2 million. Even the highest earners in this series, Indiana's Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton (tied at $42.2 million each), and Oklahoma City's MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($35.9 million), are on contracts that, while substantial, are structured within the league's maximum allowable percentages for their service time (30% of the salary cap). SGA and Haliburton are in their seventh and fifth seasons respectively, allowing their franchises the flexibility to build robust rosters without being crippled by supermax deals typically available to players with 10+ years of service or specific award criteria after eight or nine seasons. This model mirrors recent champions like the 2023 Denver Nuggets (before Nikola Jokić’s salary surged) and the 2024 Boston Celtics (before Jaylen Brown’s supermax kicked in).

However, this era of relative payroll calm is finite. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible for a record-breaking five-year extension worth approximately $380 million in the summer of 2026, boosted by his MVP win. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are also due for rookie extensions this offseason. The Pacers, too, face rising costs; re-signing free agent Myles Turner could push them into taxpayer territory as soon as next season. Despite their on-court success, both franchises rank lower in terms of valuation: Sportico values the Pacers at $3.74 billion (21st in the NBA) and the Thunder at $3.55 billion (24th). This is the first Finals since at least 1991 to feature two of the league's 10 least valuable franchises, a factor highly correlated with market size. Oklahoma City is the NBA’s third-smallest market, and Indianapolis is the seventh-smallest.

On the court, while the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder enter as clear favorites against an Indiana Pacers team that won 18 fewer games, several tactical battles could define the series. A primary focus will be the "pace battle." The Pacers thrive on fast-break opportunities, fueled by Tyrese Haliburton's unselfish play, and move the ball quickly in the half-court. Conversely, the Thunder led the league in limiting opposition transition frequency and fast-break points allowed. Interestingly, OKC has also demonstrated a high pace throughout the playoffs, partly due to their turnover-generating defense. The coaching duel between two of the NBA's best adjust-on-the-fly tacticians will be critical in determining who dictates the tempo.

The "turnover battle" is another crucial front. The Thunder are renowned for their disruptive, aggressive defense, leading the playoffs in steals. The Pacers, despite their high-speed, pass-heavy offense, are one of the league's best at ball protection. Whether OKC's switch-heavy defense can disrupt Indiana's offensive rhythm or force them into late-clock scenarios will be key. Another strategic question is whether OKC will need to "shelve a big." Indiana's frontcourt triumvirate of Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, and Bryant will stretch the floor, potentially pulling OKC's primary rim protectors, Isaiah Hartenstein or Chet Holmgren, away from the basket. This contrasts with OKC's previous playoff matchups against players like Zach Edey and Rudy Gobert, and could create opportunities for Pascal Siakam to attack Holmgren or Hartenstein off the dribble or bully smaller defenders like Jalen Williams in the post if OKC opts for a smaller lineup.

Regarding star players, the question is whether Indiana will "let SGA get his." Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a scoring machine, averaging 29.8 points per game this postseason. The Pacers have previously focused on limiting the supporting casts of stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, and Jalen Brunson. They might employ a similar strategy against OKC, daring SGA to carry the offensive load while trying to shut down Jalen Williams (20.4 PPG) and Chet Holmgren (16.4 PPG). For OKC to succeed, contributions from their inconsistent shooters like Luguentz Dort, Cason Wallace, or Aaron Wiggins could be vital, especially if both Williams and Holmgren also deliver strong offensive performances. On the Pacers' side, Bennedict Mathurin emerges as a potential X-factor. The 22-year-old is Indiana's most talented scorer after Haliburton and Siakam, but his defensive vulnerabilities and tendency to slow ball movement can be liabilities if he's not scoring efficiently. The Pacers are 5-2 when Mathurin scores in double figures, and his ability to create off the bounce will be needed against OKC's staunch defense, though his head-down drives could play into the Thunder's hands.

Ultimately, this NBA Finals promises a fascinating clash of youthful talent, strategic financial management, and contrasting playing styles. While neither Indiana nor the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise (in its current city) has won an NBA championship—the Pacers having ABA titles and the Thunder franchise winning as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979—one of these cities is poised to host its first-ever NBA championship parade, capping off a remarkable season for both teams.