Above: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder is awarded the Bill Russell 2025 Finals MVP on June 22, 2025. Image credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Spin
After relocating to Oklahoma City 18 years ago, winning the NBA Championship over more established franchises seemed more than an improbable feat for the Thunder, but with a talented young side, this victory could mark a new beginning of dominance.
This is the seventh different champion in seven straight years of NBA action, indicating that the era of dominant dynasties is over and that competition is more evenly matched than ever.