Here is a statement we never thought we would be saying: the Oklahoma City Thunder are the NBA Champions. The Thunder have a complicated history. The organization started life as the Seattle Supersonics before relocating following a sale by the original owners. The team became part of Oklahoma’s identity like a chicken-fried steak. And the success they have worked hard to achieve is a direct result of Sam Presti and the heads in OKC. This season, OKC was destined for glory, and they lived up to their number one seed allocation by not only winning the title but dominating along the way.
The Thunder have a unique and interesting history in the NBA
Once the organization relocated to Oklahoma City, it immediately changed its identity to the Thunder. The Thunder were unique in the sense that Oklahoma only had one team in the NBA, while other states like Texas and California had several teams for the fans to choose from. If you are from Oklahoma, you support the Thunder, no question. From Tulsa to Bartlesville, the Thunder was the pride of Oklahoma. However, since the relocation, they never managed to replicate the success they had in Seattle.
The 2024-25 season belonged to the Oklahoma City Thunder from start to finish
The last time the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals, the team looked very different. The Thunder lost the 2012 Finals despite having three of the most dominant players in the NBA at the time in Russel Westbrook, Paul George, and Kevin Durant(who followed the team from Seattle to OKC). In a twist of fate, the current roster’s core came to OKC when Sam Presti traded Russell Westbrook and Paul George in a move that got them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from the Clippers.
The first title in the club’s 17-year history came thanks to SGA and his teammates outperforming every team in the NBA. In the 2024-25 season, they set the record for the largest point differential of all time in the regular season, smashing a mark that had stood for more than half a century. The 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 set another record for OKC as they became the second-youngest champion in NBA history, behind only the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers.
Ironically, the Thunder clinched the title on the same day that one of their former stars, Kevin Durant, was traded to the Rockets by the Suns in a deal that broke records in the NBA. Following their historic win, SGA had the following to say:
“It doesn’t feel real. 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.”
Like a proud father, OKC head coach Mark Daigneault said:
“They behave like champions. They compete like champions. 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.”
OKC has the players and draft capital to continue winning for a long time
Thanks to SGA’s incredible season that saw him win regular season and Finals MVP, along with the scoring title, Shai has now signed an extension that makes him, once the contract comes into effect, the highest-paid athlete in American sports. The Thunder have also given the core stars new contracts. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams have both received new contract extensions, and OKC has significant draft capital thanks to Sam Presti’s incredible business acumen. We expect the Thunder to dominate the NBA for many years to come.
