The Oklahoma City Thunder, after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 in Game 5 on Wednesday, have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. In the final series, they will face the winner of the Pacers/Knicks matchup (the Pacers currently lead 3-1). The team`s objective is to capture the first championship title in Oklahoma City`s history.
The Thunder are widely regarded as the main favorites to win the championship (-575 odds at DraftKings), but it`s crucial to note that the outcome is not yet decided. The Pacers, assuming they advance past the Knicks, are currently playing exceptionally well.
Observing Oklahoma City`s playoff run, it`s impossible to overlook the distinct vibes of the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors surrounding this team. The Stephen Curry-led Warriors secured their first Western Conference Finals victory on May 27, 2015 — precisely 10 years and one day before the Thunder`s win on Wednesday.
However, the similarities aren`t limited to just a comparable feel regarding their accelerated path to contention, the development of homegrown talent, or the joy they derive from playing both with and for each other; the rosters and foundational models are remarkably similar, almost mirror images. Let`s delve into the specifics.
First-Time MVPs
The most striking common feature between this year`s Thunder squad and the 2014-15 Warriors is the presence of a first-time league MVP leading the charge. For OKC, it`s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is 26 years old and earned his first All-Star selection two years prior. For the Warriors, it was Stephen Curry, also 26 years old and two years removed from his initial All-Star appearance.
SGA and Curry achieve dominance through different means. Shai excels as the league`s premier driver, while Curry is unparalleled as a shooter. SGA has sufficiently refined his shooting to challenge defenses, just as Curry did with his driving game. Ultimately, this results in the same outcome: a virtually unstoppable, score-first point guard who facilitates offensive opportunities for his teammates by virtue of his individual threat level and the defensive attention it commands.
| TALE OF THE TAPE | PPG | TS% | PER | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 32.7 | 63.7 | 30.7 | 12.1 |
| 2015 Stephen Curry | 23.8 | 63.8 | 28.0 | 11.8 |
While SGA holds an edge over Curry in nearly all traditional and advanced statistics, his raw scoring output is particularly noteworthy. Curry didn`t reach the 30-point per game mark until the subsequent season. Does this imply that this year`s SGA was a superior player to 2014-15 Curry? It`s certainly open for discussion. Yet, the key point is that both followed a remarkably similar trajectory to their first MVP award, making a significant impact two years prior before ascending to MVP status in their age-26 season. Curry crowned his first MVP with a first championship trophy. SGA is just four wins away from replicating that achievement.
Top-Ranked Defense
The bedrock of OKC`s success has been their defensive prowess. This was equally true for the 2014-15 Warriors, who finished the season leading the league in defensive rating, despite being more widely recognized, or at least celebrated, for their potent offense led by the Splash Brothers.
Oklahoma City`s offense, although ranked within the top three units, isn`t as flashy as Golden State`s was, which perhaps makes the merits of their top-ranked defense more immediately apparent. However, the defensive characteristics are largely consistent with Golden State`s: primarily, a collection of versatile wings ranging from approximately 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-8 who apply relentless pressure on ball handlers and possess the ability to switch defensive assignments both on and off the ball. The disruptive impact of this pressure is undeniable – resulting in 17.0 turnovers generated per game for OKC compared to 16.2 for the Warriors.
For the Warriors, this group included Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, and Shaun Livingston. For the Thunder, the key contributors are Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Shai, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins.
Another shared element? Supporting this perimeter depth, both the Thunder and the Warriors featured an elite rim protector guarding the paint – Chet Holmgren and, to a slightly lesser degree, Isaiah Hartenstein for OKC, and Andrew Bogut (you might have forgotten him, right?) for Golden State.
| TEAM | DRTG | LEAGUE AVG DRTG |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 Thunder | 107.4 (No. 1) | 114.8 |
| 2014-15 Warriors | 100.4 (No. 1) | 105.8 |
When accounting for the increase in game pace and overall scoring levels, it`s evident that OKC`s defense has actually been even more effective relative to the league average (+7.4 compared to Golden State`s +5.3). Nevertheless, the core principle remains: both in attributes and effectiveness, defensive dominance was, and is, central to both teams` identities. Indeed, OKC is aiming to become the first team since the 2014-15 Warriors to claim the title with the league`s number one ranked defense.
The Second All-Star
Alongside their primary star, both the Warriors and the Thunder sought a second player who would develop into an All-Star. The Warriors successfully identified their complementary piece in Klay Thompson, selected 11th overall in the 2011 draft. The Thunder found theirs in Jalen Williams, taken 12th in 2022. Coincidentally, the Warriors` first championship coincided with Thompson`s first All-Star selection in 2015, and if Oklahoma City secures the title, it will likewise occur in the year of Williams` first All-Star selection.
| THE WINGMEN | PPG | TS% | PER |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 Jalen Williams | 21.6 | 57.3 | 20.3 |
| 2014-15 Klay Thompson | 21.7 | 59.1 | 20.8 |
While both players were lottery picks, making their All-Star trajectory not entirely unforeseen, they were nevertheless considered somewhat uncertain prospects. Their rapid growth into impactful two-way players, however, cemented and accelerated the championship aspirations and timeline for both the Warriors and the Thunder.
The Hidden Gem
A common thread among many championship-contending teams built primarily through their own drafting and development is the unexpected emergence of a late-round draft pick who exceeds expectations. The Warriors discovered their hidden talent in Draymond Green, selected with the 35th overall pick. The Thunder unearthed an even deeper gem in Lu Dort, who went undrafted before signing a G-League contract with OKC in 2019.
Green went on to establish himself as arguably the premier defender of his generation. While Dort hasn`t reached quite that lofty status, he is unquestionably one of the league`s top perimeter defenders. Both players represent the kind of unexpected value (“found money”) that often plays a crucial role in the success of championship teams. Green earned his first selection to the All-Defensive First Team in 2015, the same year the Warriors won the title. Dort achieved the same recognition this season. The Pacers or Knicks remain potential obstacles, but so far, OKC`s path mirrors that of the Warriors.
| TEAM | FIRST-TIME MVP | FIRST-TIME ALL-STAR | FIRST-TIME ALL-DEFENSE | TITLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Warriors | Stephen Curry | Klay Thompson | Draymond Green | Yes |
| 2025 Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Jalen Williams | Lu Dort | ??? |
The Core Aged 26 or Under
A particularly exciting aspect of the 2015 Warriors was the youthfulness of their roster and the inherent potential to translate a single championship into a sustained run of titles. For Golden State, their top three scorers and arguably best players were all 26 years old or younger (Curry, Thompson, and Green). The same holds true for the Thunder with Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Holmgren.
The Warriors were strategically positioned to add a superstar like Kevin Durant in 2016 partly because Thompson and Green were still on cost-effective rookie contracts (and Curry was on one of the most team-friendly deals in sports history). Similarly, OKC possesses the means, largely due to a seemingly endless supply of draft capital, to potentially add a significant star to their current roster should it align with their strategic fit and long-term forecast.
Regardless, this situation is not indicative of a fleeting success. Whether Oklahoma City culminates this season with a title or not, or whether they pursue adding another major piece versus relying on the organic growth of their core supplemented by favorable rookie contracts and draft assets, the trajectory is set for a prolonged period of top-tier contention, much like it was for the Warriors.
Playoff Paths
- Both teams swept their first-round series: Golden State over New Orleans. OKC over Memphis.
- Both teams won their Conference Finals series in five games: Golden State over Houston. OKC over Minnesota.
- Both teams encountered their most challenging series prior to the Finals in the second round: Golden State fell behind 2-1 against the Grizzlies before staging a comeback to win in six games. OKC required seven games to overcome Denver.
The 2015 Warriors and the 2025 Thunder are teams with striking similarities who followed a comparable expedited route to reaching the league`s highest tier. Many were initially reluctant to acknowledge just how formidable the Warriors were, resorting to the convenient “too young” and “not quite ready” labels until they had no choice but to concede when Golden State hoisted the championship trophy (and even then, some tried to argue they benefited from opponent injuries).
The skepticism surrounding OKC hasn`t been as pronounced, but it has been present throughout the season. Sports debate programs frequently featured discussions questioning their readiness, and generally, there was a cautious wait-and-see approach that seemed more inclined to group Oklahoma City with other capable Western Conference teams in what was perceived as an “open race.”
However, the competitive landscape was never as wide open as many wished to believe. While it`s true the league has become characterized by greater parity, that parity largely existed *below* OKC, who consistently operated at a level above the rest of the conference throughout the season. Whether facing Indiana or New York in the Finals, the sole remaining task is to prove definitively that they were the league`s premier team all along by securing the championship victory.
Nonetheless, it`s easy to predict that even if OKC triumphs, conversations will inevitably arise suggesting they experienced a degree of luck. This perspective will be misguided, yet you can be certain people will highlight factors such as Ja Morant`s injury in the first round, their avoidance of facing the Warriors due to Stephen Curry`s injury and the Celtics` apparent fatigue, and the fact that they are playing the Pacers or Knicks instead of the 64-win Cavaliers. The narrative of their “bracket breaking favorably” is already beginning to form.
A similar situation unfolded for the Warriors, who, perhaps because some wished to validate their initial skepticism, were understated by a vocal segment as circumstantial champions – teams that benefited from significant opponent injuries during their playoff journey. This narrative significantly contributed to the Warriors` motivation in the following season, 2015-16, where they proceeded to set an NBA record with 73 regular-season wins, as the persistent talk about their first title being even partially fortunate fueled their collective determination.
Should OKC successfully conclude this championship quest and this “good fortune” narrative indeed gain traction, it will be fascinating to observe their performance in the upcoming season. Because, once again, this team, much like the 2015 Warriors, is fundamentally built for sustained championship contention for years to come.
Jasper Hawthorne