The OKC Thunder Have Arrived As NBA Champions, And They’re Here To Stay

“When we do get back to the postseason, we want it to be an arrival – not an appearance … we don’t want to be in a position where we get there, but have no way to get back.”

Those were the words echoing through a Zoom media session four years ago, as Thunder General Manager Sam Presti addressed his franchise’s long-term outlook.

It was Presti’s method of reassuring Oklahoma City’s fanbase, by way of the media, that all of the pain and agony would be worth it. Every blowout loss. Every year of being in the draft lottery. Every year of trusting in their player development program.

In Presti’s mind, there was always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even in one of the smallest markets in professional sports, where attracting free agents is an uphill battle.

He wanted to make it clear from the start: In order to rise to the top, you first have to be the punching bag. Because a dramatic turnaround doesn’t happen overnight. Even in a league that demands results, patience is still a virtue. Those who refrain from jumping the gun and making ill-advised decisions in order to expedite the process are going to be rewarded.

If you remember, it was that same 2021 season that OKC suffered the most lopsided defeat in NBA history, as the Grizzlies dismantled them by 73 points and left everyone questioning what type of operation the Thunder were running.

Okay, maybe those type of traumatic experiences weren’t part of the plan. But they certainly helped reaffirm his message.

Presti already tried the ‘retooling’ approach before.

That process featured Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, two guys that couldn’t blend well enough with Russell Westbrook to win a single playoff series.

Those two years barely creeping above mediocrity, winning 48 and 49 games and getting bounced early in the playoffs, were all the evidence Presti needed.

The new plan needed time to develop. He was vehemently against cashing in assets for veteran superstars that might affect this team’s budding chemistry.

“Shortcuts cut long runs short,” Presti said in 2021. “We’re going to do everything in our power to not allow that to happen.”

Four years after his public declaration for patience and steadiness, the Thunder turned his vision into a success story. They are NBA champions – a label no franchise should ever take for granted.

Reaching the final destination required winning two Game 7s in the same postseason, overcoming the adversity of poor shooting performances, and slaying the demon that was the 2025 Indiana Pacers, an admirable group that became immune to any sort of pressure in fourth quarters.

Collectively, OKC is the youngest NBA champion in 48 years. Only the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers were younger, led by 24-year-old Bill Walton.

Many stepping stones were necessary to achieve this 2025 title, beginning with the blockbuster deal in the 2019 offseason to bring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into the organization, along with five first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Today, it can officially be known as the best trade package of all time – or the worst, if you’re the LA Clippers.

Among that treasure trove of picks was the No. 12 selection in the 2022 draft, which became the indispensable talent of Jalen Williams.

Presti didn’t stop there.

It’s one thing to get superstar talent in the door. That’s half the battle. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams have become OKC’s bedrock, and their own version of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. That shouldn’t feel like a stretch, either, based on their production at such a young age.

Arguably more important is how you complement the stars with surrounding role players, while also ensuring they have a coach with excellent communication skills and a background in player development.

Mark Daigneault took over the head coaching role following the 2020 bubble. While it was an unconventional hire at the time, Daigneault was always going to have a runway to prove himself at the NBA level. With the timeline Presti kept preaching, it would allow a young coaching staff to create a strong team culture while earning the respect – and trust – of everyone in the locker room.

They had to find some good luck along the way, such as pinpointing Lu Dort as an undrafted talent and developing him, landing the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft to ultimately select Chet Holmgren, and having Cason Wallace pan out as quickly as he did.

Three consecutive seasons under .500 were all the Thunder needed before turning into serious threats. The 2024 playoffs were the first time since 2016 that OKC entered a postseason with championship expectations. Now, looking back, it’s pretty surreal this group only required one heartbreaking playoff defeat before hanging a banner.

But that goes back to Presti’s detailed nature.

After OKC’s run ended prematurely last year in Dallas, Presti absorbed the information, diagnosed what they were missing, and took action. Specifically, he noticed how opponents were guarding Josh Giddey when he didn’t have the ball, shrinking the floor and disrupting the spacing. He also saw how badly OKC was bullied on the offensive glass on certain nights, realizing that increasing their frontcourt size could benefit them in the long-run.

Last summer, two impactful moves transitioned the Thunder from the group of solid Finals contenders to bona fide title favorites.

By sending Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Alex Caruso, one of the premier guard and wing defenders in the world, OKC addressed a weakness and fortified its rotation. From day one, Caruso never cared if he started or came off the bench. He was also perfectly fine with one of the lowest usage rates in the league – he attempted fewer than six shots per game this season and focused his attention on making life hell for opposing ball-handlers.

Six months after trading for Caruso, the Thunder locked him up with a four-year, $81 million extension that keeps him with the core until 2030.

The flashes OKC showed last season definitely appealed to free agents in the market. Their rapid trajectory, from missing the play-in tournament in 2023 to grabbing the No. 1 seed a year later, was attractive for any player looking to lift them over the hump.

That’s exactly how Isaiah Hartenstein fell into their lap.

It couldn’t have been better timing for Hartenstein to hit free agency. His incumbent team (New York) understood he was no longer in their price range.

Hartenstein knew he’d fit a need within their system. He was also looking for a long-term home after bouncing around the league for a few years. When Presti signed him to a three year, $87 million contract last summer, it was the final piece of the puzzle.

The Thunder cruised to a 49-8 record in the regular season with Hartenstein active. He posted a career-high 29.6% defensive rebound rate, mitigating OKC’s biggest weakness and keeping opponents from racking up extra possessions.

In many ways, inking both Caruso and Hartenstein to multi-year contracts felt like a nail in the coffin for the Western Conference – and Presti was the perfect craftsman.

With the rest of the conference shifting around them, battling injuries, or going through existential crisis, the Thunder quickly became matchup-proof. Locked and loaded with this core, they now have the answers to every test.

This playoff run showcased the value of loading your roster with versatility. The gameplan has to change from series to series. That’s why OKC, the team with the most absurd wing depth in the league, prevailed.

You would be hard pressed to find a better perimeter defender than Caruso. He’s the best in the league 6’5″ or under. And that shouldn’t be debated after this playoff run. Only Houston’s Amen Thompson consistently made as many game-altering defensive plays this season, and that’s with a 6’7″ frame.

Caruso routinely stifled the Pacers in the halfcourt, rotating perfectly and shutting off every option Indiana had. He set the defensive tone in Game 7 before Haliburton’s injury:

In a nutshell, that’s what made this OKC team so unique. Role clarification was never a problem. Every player had certain duties and responsibilities. It never came with any pouting, egos, or attitudes. Because everyone knew, at the end of the day, they were integral to the championship formula.

The Thunder don’t hoist the trophy without Caruso doing the dirty work – boxing out giants in the middle, sacrificing his body so that his teammates can swoop in for the rebound, and being the same type of pest Jrue Holiday was for the Celtics during last year’s title run.

They don’t win without Wallace maturing from his rookie to sophomore year, forcing turnovers, and having the versatility to fit into many different lineups.

They don’t win without Holmgren protecting the paint with a vengeance, holding opponents to a low 51.5% shooting at the rim during this playoff run.

They don’t win without Williams joining an elite club of Hall-of-Famers that produced a 40-point game in the Finals within their first three seasons. His Game 5 masterpiece earned him a spot next to Jerry West, George Mikan, Rick Barry, Magic Johnson, and Dwyane Wade.

Dort was also instrumental with his defensive IQ, gritty rebounding efforts, and rainbow jumpers as the shot clock expired.

And they absolutely don’t complete this journey without the MVP accomplishing what he’s done all season long: Redeeming himself after a disappointing night. That became the theme of Gilgeous-Alexander’s playoff run.

Any time he was questioned for anything – poor shot selection, not passing enough, or losing focus – he immediately bounced back to remind the NBA universe what he’s capable of.

After isolating too many times in Game 6 and not getting his teammates involved, SGA closed out the Pacers in Game 7 with the crispest passing performance of his season. He finished with 22 potential assists, generating 32 points off his passes. Oh, and it was accompanied by just one turnover.

Just like that, he stopped the critics in their tracks.

Gilgeous-Alexander became the fourth player in history to win the regular season scoring title, Most Valuable Player award, and Finals MVP in the same year. He joins only Michael Jordan (who did it four times), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.

When the Thunder acquired SGA, even they didn’t believe he would pull off a feat that only three legends have achieved in the past.

Oklahoma City finishes with a combined record of 84-21, officially tied for the 11th best winning percentage of all time when you combine the regular season and playoffs:

Any time you’ve joined the illustrious company of teams led by Jordan, Kareem, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Stephen Curry, you’re on a successful path. Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder have now pulled up a chair and been seated at the table.

Because, like it or not, they belong. Presti’s brilliance made sure of that. And with an average age of 24.6, they aren’t going anywhere.

“Everybody talked about, you need experience to win the championship,” Caruso said after Game 7. “I think through the playoffs, this team grew up and learned on the fly. Which, most teams have to learn through losses and learn through defeat. But I think this team learned through success. It’s a unique capability to be able to do that for 21 to 27-year-old kids.”

The Western Conference better huddle up and figure out a way to dethrone OKC. There’s still more growth left in the tank, and that’s a scary reality for a team that just won 84 games in eight months.