Trends, Debates & Rankings: Where Does OKC’s 2025 Title Rank Among Recent NBA Champions?

The confetti hadn’t even finished falling at Paycom Center before the conversations began: Where does this Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) championship rank among recent NBA title runs? In a league shaped by player movement, big-market dominance, and constant power shifts, the Thunder’s 2025 triumph stands out — not just because of what they achieved, but how they did it.

Their 103–91 Game 7 win over the Indiana Pacers gave Oklahoma City its first NBA title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008. But it also gave us a rare championship story — one that feels different from the recent past. Let’s break down why this Thunder run matters, where it ranks, and why it might be remembered as more than just a title… but the start of something bigger.

The Night Everything Changed: Game 7 and a Franchise’s Finest Hour

You could feel the tension in the building from the opening tip. The Paycom Center was electric. It was loud, it was personal, and it was historic.

It was extra special considering that it was a Game 7 in the NBA Finals and it was extra-special with another layer of seriousness. That game was the first Game 7 in league Finals since 2016 when LeBron became the face of Cleveland and led the team to that historic turnaround win against the Warriors. To the residents of Oklahoma City, basketball was not the only thing. It was a city that had gotten behind a home grown team that was young and which had taken the city through the finest season it had ever had.

The defining moment was the Thunder scoring a 34 point second half on the strength of 34-20 in the third quarter run after the Oklahoma team went point-to-point in the first half to end 56 56. Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Williams made back-to-back three-point shots, and the game was not in sight anymore.

And it was a great lesson that not only championship teams win games, but they capture moments. And the Thunder did that when the lights were brightest.

SGA: A Star Cemented in History

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had been building to this all year. But what he accomplished in Game 7 — and throughout the 2024–25 season — now puts him in rare company. He poured in 29 points and dished out 12 assists in the championship clincher, playing with the kind of calm and control you expect from someone with rings on his fingers — not someone playing in his first Finals.

Here’s what makes it special: SGA became just the fifth player in NBA history to win the regular season MVP, the scoring title, and an NBA championship in the same season. The others? Legends. The Finals MVP trophy was the final stamp on what will be remembered as one of the great individual seasons in modern NBA history.

“How did OKC win the finals?” pic.twitter.com/xolMkE2h11

— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) June 23, 2025

Nor was it a story of an individual brilliance. The manner in which SGA led was unselfish, unshaken and unwavering and therefore it was easy to have teammates who raise their game.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Why This Thunder Team Was Historically Great

Let’s talk numbers, because this Thunder team didn’t just win — they dominated.

• 68–14 Regular Season Record: Tied for sixth-best in NBA history.
• +12.87 Point Differential: The best ever, surpassing the iconic 1971–72 Lakers.
• League-leading defense: Their defensive rating led the league, and it showed in the playoffs.

In their final 10 games of the postseason, they averaged 115.6 points while holding opponents to just under 108 — a balance that highlights how efficient and locked-in this team was on both ends.

Unlike some teams that flame out after a strong regular season, the Thunder sustained their excellence all the way through the playoffs. That consistency is what puts them in the conversation with historically elite champions.

A Small-Market Win That’s Big for the League

There’s something special about seeing a small-market team cut down the nets. Oklahoma City and Indiana represented the smallest combined media market in NBA Finals history. And yet, the basketball was as compelling as anything we’ve seen in years.

Sure, Game 1 drew modest ratings (just 8.91 million viewers), but the drama of a Game 7 finale — and the emergence of young stars — captivated fans by the end. And for the league, it was a powerful message: great basketball isn’t confined to New York, LA, or Miami.

This win didn’t just belong to Oklahoma City. It belonged to every fan in every small NBA city who dreams of their team doing things the right way and reaching the mountaintop.

Where Does This Championship Rank? Let’s Compare

In the modern era of parity — seven champions in seven years — OKC’s title might be the most complete from top to bottom.

Recent NBA Champions:

• 2025: Thunder (68-14)
• 2024: Celtics (64-18)
• 2023: Nuggets (53-29)
• 2022: Warriors (58-24)
• 2021: Bucks (46-26)
• 2020: Lakers (52-19)
• 2019: Raptors (58-24)

What separates the Thunder?

1. Dominance – Their regular season was among the best ever, and they backed it up with a championship.
2. Youth – SGA is just 26. Holmgren and Williams are 23 and 22. This core could rule the league for a decade.
3. Game 7 Composure – Not only did they win a Game 7, they won it comfortably. A 12-point margin in a Finals Game 7 is rare — and it says a lot about their poise.

For reference, most Game 7s are grinding, one-possession affairs. Think:

• 2016: Cavs 93, Warriors 89
• 2013: Heat 95, Spurs 88
• 2010: Lakers 83, Celtics 79

OKC didn’t just survive. They finished with authority.

The Blueprint: A Championship Built, Not Bought

There was no shortcut here. This wasn’t a superteam slapped together in a summer. This was six years in the making.

Sam Presti’s 2019 trade of Paul George set it in motion — bringing back SGA and a mountain of draft capital. Then came smart drafting: Jalen Williams at No. 12 in 2022, Chet Holmgren in 2022 (though he missed his rookie year), and savvy veteran additions like Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

The result? A deep, versatile team that won on both ends of the floor and had answers for everything the playoffs threw at them.

Culture, Character, and Clutch Play

Championships are won with talent. But sustained success comes from culture. This Thunder group played for each other. You could see it in the way they celebrated stops, moved the ball, and trusted the system.

And when it mattered most, they didn’t blink. Whether it was Jalen Williams dropping 40 in Game 5 or Lu Dort’s lockdown defense in the clutch, this team had clutch DNA.

They forced 21 turnovers in Game 7 — a ridiculous number for a Finals game. That wasn’t luck. That was preparation, discipline, and a defensive identity that never wavered.

A City Celebrates – And the League Takes Notice

When the final buzzer sounded, Oklahoma City erupted. Fans leapt into the Bricktown Canals. Horns blared down Sheridan Avenue. Mayor David Holt declared a citywide holiday and announced a championship parade before dawn.

It wasn’t just about a title — it was about pride, perseverance, and proof that a city often overlooked had climbed to the top of the basketball world.

And from a league standpoint? The message was just as loud: You don’t need a coastal zip code to build a contender. You just need vision.

What Comes Next: The Dynasty Conversation Begins

This may have been the Thunder’s first championship since moving to Oklahoma, but it might not be their last — not by a long shot.

With their three key stars under 27, a war chest of draft picks, and one of the NBA’s best front offices, the Thunder are positioned to become the next long-term powerhouse.

Already, people are making comparisons to the Warriors in 2015 — a young core that learned together and won early. But OKC might have an even better foundation on the defensive end, which tends to hold up over time.

Final Thoughts: More Than a Championship

When we look back on the 2025 NBA season, it won’t just be remembered for the Thunder’s win. It will be remembered for how they won — with humility, hard work, and a belief in the process.

This title wasn’t just a reward. It was a validation — of smart drafting, patient rebuilding, and the idea that you don’t have to chase stars when you can develop your own.

Where does OKC’s 2025 championship rank among the greats? That depends on what they do next. But right now, it feels like the beginning of something bigger — not just for Oklahoma City, but for the NBA.

A title for the history books. And maybe, the start of a dynasty.