They heard the hate all year. Now, they’re holding the trophy.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday to Nando de Colo, Mike James, and Saben Lee! 🎉

NBA Finals Game 7

Oklahoma City wins 2025 NBA Finals with 103-91 G7 win over Indiana; Tyrese Haliburton tears Achilles in first quarter

After completing one of the greatest statistical regular seasons in history, the Oklahoma City Thunder are your 2024-25 NBA champions!

Last night’s Game 7 was a tale of roster versatility for the Thunder and brutal misfortune for Indiana. Alex Caruso (10 PTS, 3 STL) and Tyrese Haliburton went back and forth in the early goings until Haliburton went down with a non-contact lower leg injury that appeared to be an Achilles rupture—prayers up to him, his family, and the Pacers organization as he starts his recovery process. It was a terrible blow to Indy’s top-level talent, but we can’t wait to see Hali on the court again as soon as possible. 💛

Pascal Siakam (16 PTS) and the Pacers continued to fight after the injury, but it was clear they weren’t at full strength. Hitting 8 of their 16 first-half threes to make up for their otherwise sloppy, turnover-laden play, Indiana grabbed the lead before halftime. But the Thunder’s threes started falling after the break, and their aggressive defense and ability to force turnovers helped them maintain a consistent, thin margin throughout the third quarter. It was also the second half when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29 PTS, 12 AST, 2 BLK) really got going, as he turned out a playoff career high in assists and an impressive overall performance on both ends to cement his selection as 2025 Finals MVP.

T.J. McConnell (16 PTS) singlehandedly kept the Pacers in the game as the second half went on, scoring 12 PTS straight as the third quarter ended, but eight Indiana turnovers in the period handed every ounce of momentum McConnell accumulated right back to Oklahoma City, who capitalized on the Pacers’ lack of playmaking and ball control to stretch out the lead. From there, Chet Holmgren (18 PTS, 8 REB, 5 BLK) started swatting shots like a madman to secure OKC’s Finals-clinching win.

It’s the culmination of an incredible season for this squad, who brought a relatively new basketball city their first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy. 🏆

Redemption Arc Completed—how OKC went from heartbreak to potential dynasty

The greatest “What If?” of the 2010s has officially become “What Is.”

For years, the Thunder were a franchise defined by their failure to meet expectations. After moving to OKC in 2008 and drafting Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden in short order, it appeared the small-town storm were headed for NBA royalty.

But after a Finals appearance in 2012, OKC never returned to the highest stage with their core three. After dealing Harden to Houston, Durant and Westbrook made it back to the WCF twice more, falling in 6 to San Antonio in 2014 and blowing a 3-1 lead to the 73-win Warriors in 2016. Durant went West, and after a few more years of playoff defeat, Westbrook did too.

In the end, all three won league MVP awards, two of them in Blue and Orange. The franchise’s trophy case, though, remained empty.

But the same offseason that saw the last of their big three jump ship was also the start of something new. Westbrook’s trade came after his running mate, Paul George, was shipped to Los Angeles in exchange for a package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a haul of draft picks. At the time, the Thunder had hopes that Shai could become an All-Star. Instead, he became an MVP.

The draft picks? They became the foundation of the league’s youngest championship team since 1977. The Clippers’ 2022 first-rounder turned into Jalen Williams, who made All-NBA and All-Defense teams in his third season and became the fifth-youngest player in league history to score 40 PTS in the Finals. GM Sam Presti made the most of OKC’s other rookie additions, scooping up an undrafted Lu Dort in 2019, selecting defensive anchor Chet Holmgren second overall in 2022, and nabbing Cason Wallace tenth in 2023.

And after the first-seeded Thunder fell short in 2024, they went to work finding the last pieces to their championship puzzle, signing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and acquiring Alex Caruso from Chicago.

For most franchises, letting three MVPs slip away without a ring to show for it would be the whole story. But for OKC, it was just a single chapter en route to an epic ending. And with a team that’s still young and hungry, there are still many pages to be written.

Players, social media react to Haliburton’s injury

Hali’s Achilles tear was a tough end to a legendary playoff run. After a string of insane comebacks, legendary shots, and iconic moments, going down in a winner-take-all game is an impossible pill to swallow.

After the fact, players from around the league flocked to Tyrese’s support, sending their best wishes to the league’s most feared clutch shot-maker.

One thing is for sure—title or not, Haliburton’s performance this postseason will absolutely never be forgotten. There’s more than one way to be immortal.

KD Traded to Houston

Kevin Durant dealt to Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 No. 10 pick, second-round compensation

Just a few hours before a new champion was crowned, a former champion found his new home.

Before Game 7, Shams Charania broke the news that Phoenix would be trading former MVP Kevin Durant to Houston in exchange for a package built around Jalen Green and the 10th-overall pick in Wednesday’s draft.

Rockets receive: Kevin Durant

Suns receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 10th pick in 2025 draft, five second-round picks (including 59th pick in 2025 draft via PHX)

It’s been clear for months that KD would be on the move this offseason—the only question was where. He now gets a deal that sends him to one of his top three destinations and works well for all parties involved.

For the Rockets, adding a superstar of Durant’s caliber vaults them into immediate contender conversations. After winning 52 games and claiming the second seed in the West, it was clear Houston’s core had potential despite a first-round loss to Golden State that exposed their lack of offensive firepower. KD solves that issue instantly.

But the deal is really an eject button after the failed big three experiment of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal in Phoenix. After mortgaging Mikal Bridges and four first-rounders to acquire KD at the 2023 deadline, Phoenix found themselves with over $150 million tied up in three players and just one playoff series win to show for it. And while the Green/Booker/Beal fit isn’t ideal on paper, dealing Durant for a player 14 years younger and adding a haul of picks helps secure the franchise’s once-grim long-term outlook, even if some of those way-future second-rounders will be used on kids that just finished middle school.

Last season, Houston ranked 27th in the league in effective field goal percentage on off-the-dribble jumpers and 24th on all jumpers. They also slotted 27th in points per direct isolation. However, Durant led the NBA with a 49.7% field goal clip on jump shots and ranked first in points per direct isolation (among players with 200 or more direct isos).

All these stats just go to show how the Durantula fits in H-Town like a glove. One question remains: how far can he take them? 🚀

Three in the Key

Signing Off

That’s a wrap on the 2024-25 NBA season! Thanks so much for sticking with us the whole way—we couldn’t have done it without you, the Enjoyers.

But stay tuned! The offseason might be upon us, but we’re not going anywhere… ✌️

Walker Carnathan and Austin Zeglis