How the Thunder won the 2025 NBA championship
- Cooper Powell
- Jun 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 26
The Ultimate Rebuild, and a Dynasty to Come?
After a thrilling 2025 playoffs and a 4-3 series win in the NBA finals against the Indiana Pacers, The Oklahoma City Thunder are finally NBA champions.
Here is how a team that was rock bottom in 2019 reached the ultimate prize in 2025.
In 2019 the Thunder reset and traded away their MVP point guard in Russell Westbrook along with MVP finalist forward Paul George.
These two trades kickstarted the rebuild and armed GM Sam Presti with more draft picks than any other team.
After a surprising season in 2020 the Thunder traded away their first-round pick for multiple draft picks in the future which made them the team who they are today.
Along with this in the years 2021-2024 the Thunder drafted multiple key assets in this championship run.
With Australian Josh Giddey who is a great in the making, which the Thunder used to trade for defensive star Alex Caruso developing a win now mentality.
Other stars like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams who are now key assets in this championship team were drafted highly. And they have developed throughout the years to become pivotal players they are now.
The scouting and player development departments have been instrumental in the success of the Thunder.
With the front office nailing all their draft picks, as well as uncovering undervalued gems through Lu Dort and Isiah Joe that provide significant roster depth for the Thunder.
Consequently, the Thunder has provided one of the best supporting classes to an MVP ever assembled.
The ability to not fold under pressure in these past years with overpaying for a free agent like some teams have around them has proved the right decision.
The direction of building a culture is a big reason this could turn into a dynasty and a why they are the 2025 NBA champions and will contend for years to come.
The 2025 Kia MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander has influenced the team's success most prominently, with him putting up outrageous numbers and averaging a team high in points in the playoffs shows how much weight is on him.
From being part of the original Paul George trade back in 2019, Shai has repaid the opportunity that was given to him to lead a young team these past years, and now an eventual Championship run.
This season everything clicked for the Thunder, with a 68-14 record (best in the NBA) as well as being top 5 in both offence and defence.
They rolled through the playoffs with Shai continuing his MVP form and having key contributors from the players who have developed the past years.
This is the first title in OKC history (not counting the 1 in Seattle) and is a blueprint for every team in the league going into a rebuild.
OKC has reinvented the wheel, in a league that was littered with super teams and big 3s, the Thunder cut it all back and trusted their process.
OKC officials and fans will relish this NBA title, and will be itching to defend the throne, but for now... it's party time in Oklahoma!
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