After one of the best series, tactically, narratively and aesthetically, it’s proven difficult to come up with many losers coming out of the 2025 NBA Finals. So, let’s stay positive and focus on the winners from a delightful championship round.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s tour de force (MVP, scoring title, championship, Finals MVP) is one of the greatest seasons in league history and has established him as arguably the best player on Earth right now. Even he needs someone to come along for the ride (just ask Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo). Enter Jalen Williams.

The third-year pro has had a couple of lesser performances in these Finals, but his highs have been atmospheric, highlighted by a 40-point Game 5 masterpiece. Williams posted 23.6 points, 5.0 boards and 4.2 assists in the series. Aligned with excellent defense, Williams has become the perfect Robin to SGA’s Batman.

Before his calf injury became yet another Achillies tear, Haliburton was enjoying a run for the ages, topped off by his Game 1 winner.

While there could be an argument that Haliburton is not the Pacers' best player, what can’t be debated is that he is their leader. Haliburton’s tempo, enthusiasm, intensity and creativity are the elixir that makes the Pacers the Pacers. While Indiana’s playoff run is a group effort, Haliburton is the star. He has taken his game to the next level and looked primed to be one of the best guards in the league for the next half decade. Now? We’ll have to wait and see.

After being a cog in Toronto’s title winning machine, Siakam is finally getting his due as an elite jack-of-all-trades, capable of taking a team to the promised land. Siakam’s 19.3 points led the Pacers by a long way, as did his 7.7 boards and his 1.6 steals was second on the team. He was also tied for third in assists (3.7) and was second in blocks (1.3). He also hit 35.7% of his threes.

Siakam has been easily the most consistent Pacer throughout the Finals and, indeed, the playoffs. It’s no accident that Indiana looks to get itself moving early through Siakam’s ability to exploit mismatches.

Mark Daigneault is widely and rightfully recognized as one of the best young coaches in the NBA and is one of the reasons that this Thunder squad looks set to rule the league. Rick Carlisle, at a sprightly 65 years old, is getting his due as one of the best tactical minds in the sport. A decade-and-a-half since taking an underdog Mavericks side to a title, he came within a game, and perhaps an injury, away from repeating the trick.

Both coaches are masterful adjusters, making this series fascinating from an X’s and O’s perspective. Daigneault perhaps out-thought himself when he changed his starting lineup to start the series but will surely learn from the master on the other bench, which will only make him and his Thunder even better.

Dort’s defensive prowess is well known by this point. His ability to press Haliburton may well have contributed to the latter’s calf strain. The issue has always been his ability to hold up on the offensive end of the floor. Dort drained 17-of-36 from deep, only dropping below 50% after a 2-of-9 effort in Game 7. Even then, though, he was still able to hit timely treys.

How the Knicks must wish they had found a way to get Toppin some court time. Yes, he’s infinitely better defensively now than he was in New York, when he was one of the worst defenders in the league, but his combination of speed, hops and shooting gave Indiana another weapon off the bench.

McConnell makes you reassess everything you knows about the sport of basketball. His impact has been immense and immediate every time he takes the floor, despite not having a semblance of a jump shot. With Haliburton injured in Game 7, McConnell stepped up, at one stage scoring 12 straight points as the Pacers title hopes ultimately slipped away.

Mike Breen nailed it when he said of McConnell, early in Game 6, "When he’s on the court, he’s in command."

It’s no surprise that two of the deepest rosters in the league met in the Finals.

Star power is surely vital, but having players able to rotate through and still perform is imperative. Player A not shooting well? Let’s give Player B a look. Defensively, the Thunder’s absurd depth allows them to limit minutes and send wave after wave of rabid defense at you.

Jokic and Antetokounmpo are two of the best three ballers on the planet and they couldn’t overcome the waves of bodies that the Thunder and Pacers threw at them in the postseason. Even New York’s brilliant six-man rotation fell flat against the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. These deep rosters were a main reason why both teams made the Finals and made it a seven-game series.

Jarrod Prosser

Jarrod is a basketball lifer and has the knees to prove it.  A former player, coach, trainer, scout and administrator, Jarrod has extensive and intimate knowledge of everything that happens on the hardwood. He has covered the NBA since 2018 for publications in the USA and his native Australia