The Oklahoma City Thunder have officially claimed the 2025 NBA championship, navigating the challenging Western Conference gauntlet before defeating the Indiana Pacers in a grueling seven-game NBA Finals series. This historic victory marks a significant milestone for a team that concluded their regular season with an impressive 68 wins and entered the playoffs as favorites, despite never having advanced past the conference semifinals with their current core until this season. Their journey to the title was a testament to learning and resilience, forged through wins, losses, sweeps, and extended series.

The Indiana Pacers, unfortunately, enter the offseason grappling with significant 'what-ifs,' particularly surrounding the health of their star player, Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton sustained a lower right injury in Game 5 and further aggravated his leg in the first quarter of Game 7, which severely impacted the Pacers' ability to compete. While injuries are an inherent part of the playoffs, the Thunder proved healthy and talented enough to withstand such challenges.

Among the key winners from this NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands out for an all-time great season. He achieved a rare feat, becoming only the fourth player in NBA history—joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Shaquille O’Neal—to win the regular-season scoring title, regular-season MVP, NBA title, and Finals MVP in the same season. Against the Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.3 points, 5.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks, shooting 44.3% from the field. In Game 7, he delivered a stellar performance with 29 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds, going 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.

Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti also celebrates this moment after nearly 20 years of relentless effort. Following the departure of Kevin Durant in 2016 and Russell Westbrook in 2019, Presti embarked on a strategic rebuilding plan, meticulously crafting a new contender through shrewd draft picks, astute trades, and impactful free-agent signings. As the second-youngest team to win an NBA title in the past 50 years, the Thunder are poised to remain title favorites in the 2025-26 season.

Jalen Williams, at 24, emerged as a critical contributor, earning All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive selections in his third season (2024-25). He solidified his reputation as one of the league’s premier two-way players, with his best years still ahead. In the Finals, Williams averaged 23.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, highlighted by a spectacular 40-point outing in Game 5.

The city of Oklahoma City itself is also a winner. Having previously hosted the New Orleans Hornets for two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07) due to Hurricane Katrina, the city experienced professional basketball firsthand, demonstrating its capacity to support a major sports franchise. Though Seattle regrettably lost its team when it relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, Thunder fans have embraced the team with unwavering support, which the players deeply appreciate.

Coach Mark Daigneault, in his fifth season with the Thunder, earned his first championship, solidifying his status as one of the league's top coaches. His consistent and adaptable approach, coupled with his insightful coaching style, has resonated deeply with the players.

The entire Thunder roster contributed significantly to this championship. It’s challenging to single out just a few players, given the collective effort. Alex Caruso secured his second career title, Chet Holmgren proved his integral role in the team’s success, and numerous other players—including Lu Dort, Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Isaiah Hartenstein, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, and Jaylin Williams—had crucial moments throughout the season.

On the flip side, the Indiana Pacers face a grim immediate future. The potential reality of Tyrese Haliburton's torn Achilles tendon, if confirmed, would severely disadvantage them next season, assuming he can even return. The challenges faced in the third and fourth quarters of Game 7 starkly illustrated the void left by Haliburton, who dictates Indiana’s offensive pace, creates opportunities for teammates, and has developed into an all-time clutch player. His extended absence would be a significant blow.

Turnovers proved to be a decisive factor in Indiana’s Game 7 loss. While credit is due to the Thunder's historically great defense, the Pacers committed 23 turnovers compared to Oklahoma City’s mere eight. This disparity led to a massive 32-10 advantage in points off turnovers for the Thunder, particularly impactful in the third quarter where the Pacers’ eight turnovers resulted in 18 Thunder points, contributing to a 14-point deficit in the period.

Furthermore, some key Pacers role players failed to rise to the occasion in Game 7. When a star player exits early in such a crucial game, the path to victory relies heavily on reserves and role players stepping up. While it’s difficult to solely blame a few individuals, Obi Toppin (who had strong performances earlier in the Finals), Aaron Nesmith, and Myles Turner collectively struggled, combining for only nine points on 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%). Toppin, notably, was held scoreless and committed three turnovers.

The injury to Haliburton also robbed hoops fans of what could have been an epic Game 7. Haliburton, known for strong finishes but slow starts, began Sunday night hyper-aggressively, draining three deep 3-pointers for nine points within seven minutes before his injury. Though the Pacers fought on, the absence of their star to generate offense was palpable. While the outcome might not have changed, a healthy Haliburton would have undoubtedly made for a far more compelling and memorable contest. As Shai Gilgeous-Alexander himself remarked, “You just hate to see it in sports in general, but in this moment, my heart dropped for him. I couldn’t imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s not fair. But competition isn’t fair sometimes.”

In celebration of this historic victory, New Era Cap, the official cap of the NBA, launched its 2025 NBA Champions collection. Fans can now purchase the very caps worn by players during the postgame ceremony and championship parade. The collection features various Oklahoma City Thunder caps, many adorned with the iconic NBA Champions side patch, allowing fans to commemorate the victory for years to come.

The NEW ERA 2024-25 NBA CHAMPIONS LOCKER ROOM A-FRAME 9FIFTY is a black snapback cap featuring the Thunder's primary logo on a custom woven patch, with “Champions” in gold script and “2025” underneath. It includes a black rope with gold accents separating the crown from the visor, an embroidered Larry O’Brien Trophy on the right side, a bronze New Era flag on the opposite side, and the NBA logo above the snapback closure.

The NEW ERA 2024-25 NBA CHAMPIONS SIDE PATCH 59FIFTY is a team-colored cap with the Thunder’s primary logo on the front, complemented by a woven Larry O’Brien Trophy and an NBA Champions 24/25 patch on the right side. This style is available in various silhouettes, including 59FIFTY, 9FIFTY, 39THIRTY, 9FORTY, and 9TWENTY, each offering unique designs while maintaining the collection’s core elements.

The NEW ERA 2024-25 2025 NBA CHAMPIONS PARADE 9SEVENTY, crafted in black and white, is a stretch snap cap showcasing the NBA Finals logo and the legendary Larry O’Brien Trophy, with “Champions” boldly displayed beneath. It features the Oklahoma City Thunder’s logo on the right side, balanced by the New Era flag on the opposite side, and finished with a bronze and black NBA logo above the snapback closure.

Tim Shanahan, Senior Director of Licensed Products at New Era Cap, expressed pride in being part of this historic victory: “Years in the making, this is a historic victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder and we’re proud to be part of the celebration. Watching the Thunder hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy after a hard-fought season was a moment basketball fans will never forget. Our latest collection is fit for the glory of this long-awaited NBA title—giving fans a chance to show their pride and celebrate alongside their champions.” The official NBA Championship Collection, including commemorative apparel and headwear, is available for purchase at neweracap.com, allowing fans to secure a piece of history and celebrate the Oklahoma City Thunder’s triumph in style.