The NBA finals will see the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder face off for the title. Both the teams have been phenomenal throughout the season and have taken down some big teams. Staying on top of the game, these two rising powerhouses will surely look to establish their supremacy over the other. However, with the finals approaching soon, there is one question that is bound to cross the mind. Is this the beginning of a new era in the NBA?
Till now, the NBA has always been about who could make the best team. The more stacked a team is, the better chances of winning. But with the emergence of the Thunder and the Pacers, that narrative seems to have taken a backseat. With teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors boasting of multiple stars, the end result was not that fruitful. On the contrary, it looks like the superstar era is dawning upon the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with a DOMINANT performance to lead his team past the Timberwolves in Game 5 😤
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 29, 2025
34 points 14-of-25 FG
8 assists 2-of-4 3PT
7 rebounds
The MVP is on his way to his first NBA Finals appearance 🏆 pic.twitter.com/fRw6NzbHUk
Take the Thunder, for example. Despite the entire team contributing, superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show with his impressive act. They also had athletes who proved themselves to be potential rising superstars. And this was also the case with the Pacers. At the same time, the team revolved around Tyrese Haliburton, the likes of Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, and more elevated them to superstar levels. If this is not enough evidence of a radical shift in the NBA, the next analysis will be bound to provide food for thought.
Small Market Teams And Shift In Playing Style Taking Over The NBA
This will be the first time that both the Thunder and the Pacers are NBA finalists and below the luxury tax threshold. While the threshold is set at $170.8 million for this season, the two finalists rank way below in terms of payroll. While the Pacers rank 18th with $169.1 million, the Thunder sits even lower at 25th with $165.6 million. And thus, this stat clearly shows that you need not build a high-budget team to get the desired results.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers would be the first NBA Finals since the luxury tax was in effect where neither team was a taxpayer.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 29, 2025
At least one team was a taxpayer in every Finals where the luxury tax was in effect (2002 & 2005 did not have luxury taxes due to lack…
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And lastly, the shift in playing style, too, has been a great success for both teams. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been phenomenal with free throws. Termed as a ‘free throw merchant,’ SGA has a whopping 126 FTM. In contrast, Tyrese Haliburton relies heavily on overall playmaking. He not only scores the points, but also comes up with a ton of assists to help his team cross the line. And this is surely a shift from the over-dependence on three-point throws. Thus, with some interesting prospects to ponder, it remains to be seen who lifts the title come the finals.
Also Read: Indiana Pacers Might Be Destined For The 2025 NBA Finals? History Points To Something Big
