Shai Gilgeous-Alexander walked off the court with tears in his eyes and a smile that said it all. After the final buzzer, he collapsed into the arms of head coach Mark Daigneault—relief, joy, and triumph washing over him all at once.
The rebuild? Complete. The journey? Worth every step.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are NBA champions.
A Historic Night in OKC
In front of a roaring crowd, the Thunder capped off a fairytale season with a 103-91 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It’s the franchise’s first-ever championship since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, and just the second in its history—the first came back in 1979, when the team was still the Seattle SuperSonics.
MVP Performance from Shai
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ended his MVP-caliber season the way only stars do—29 points, 12 assists, and complete control of the game. A clutch three-pointer early in the fourth quarter pushed the lead to double digits and felt like the final dagger.
Supporting Cast Shines Bright
Jalen Williams contributed 20 points and brought relentless energy, while Chet Holmgren, playing in his first NBA Finals, looked every bit the moment—scoring 18 points and protecting the rim with presence beyond his years. The team’s third-quarter explosion (34-20) turned the tide and created a gap Indiana couldn’t close.
A Heartbreaking Blow for the Pacers
Indiana came out fighting, even after a major setback—Tyrese Haliburton suffered a serious leg injury just seven minutes in. The Pacers still led 48-47 at halftime, showing incredible grit. Bennedict Mathurin stepped up with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but the loss of their floor general was too much to overcome.
One of the Greatest Seasons Ever
The Thunder finished with 84 total wins (regular season + playoffs), tying the iconic 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for the third-most in a single season. Only the 2016-17 Warriors (88) and 2015-16 Bulls (87) have ever won more.
A Banner That Belongs to Oklahoma
Though the franchise won a title in Seattle, Oklahoma City has never had one to call its own. That changes now. Come October, a Thunder championship banner will finally rise in Paycom Center—a symbol of belief, resilience, and the future of a young dynasty.
A New Era Has Officially Begun
From lottery picks to league leaders, from rebuilding to raising the trophy—the Thunder have arrived. The youngest team in the playoffs just finished on top of the world.
And their story? It’s only getting started.
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