The 2025 NBA Finals tip off this Thursday night, featuring a matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Both teams have earned their place on the league’s biggest stage and are now one step away from capturing a historic championship.
The Thunder dominated the Western Conference from start to finish, posting an impressive 68–14 regular season record that secured the No. 1 seed. In the playoffs, they backed it up—sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies, edging out the Denver Nuggets in a seven-game battle, and comfortably defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
The Pacers’ journey, meanwhile, has been more unexpected. Indiana finished the regular season as the East’s fourth seed with a 50–32 record. But they hit their stride in the postseason, knocking out the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks in succession.
Now, Oklahoma City and Indiana are set to clash for the NBA title, starting Thursday night at Paycom Center. At Bolavip, we’re giving you the chance to build your ideal starting five from the two conference champions by selecting your favorite player at each position.
Point guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Tyrese Haliburton
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) and Tyrese Haliburton (right)
This is without a doubt the toughest matchup to call. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton have been the standout performers for their respective teams and the main reason they’ve made it this far in the postseason.
Shai holds the statistical edge, having won the scoring title during the regular season and being named league MVP. But Tyrese delivered clutch performances throughout the postseason, firmly establishing himself as one of the league’s elite and silencing any criticism about being overrated.
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Shooting guard: Luguentz Dort vs Andrew Nembhard
Luguentz Dort (left) and Andrew Nembhard (right)
Both players have appeared in all 16 of their teams’ playoff games so far. In the head-to-head comparison, Nembhard holds a clear edge in scoring (12.8 PPG to Dort’s 7.8) and assists (5.1 to 0.9). However, Luguentz has the slight advantage on the boards (3.6 RPG to Andrew’s 3.3).
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Small forward: Jalen Williams vs Aaron Nesmith
Jalen Williams (left) and Aaron Nesmith (right)
Nesmith delivered a standout performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, hitting a record six three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone. Still, Williams has been more consistent throughout the postseason, posting stronger averages in points, rebounds, and assists.
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Power forward: Chet Holmgren vs Pascal Siakam
Chet Holmgren (left) and Pascal Siakam (right)
This comparison highlights not just performance and playing style, but two players at very different stages of their careers. Siakam is an established NBA star—an NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, a former Most Improved Player, and a three-time All-Star. He also leads in points and assists. Holmgren, on the other hand, is only in his second NBA season but has already shown flashes of greatness, suggesting a bright future ahead.
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Center: Isaiah Hartenstein vs Myles Turner
Isaiah Hartenstein (left) and Myles Turner (right)
Among the big men, Hartenstein leads the postseason battle in rebounds (7.9 RPG vs. 4.9) and assists (2.2 APG vs. 1.4). But Turner has made a bigger impact in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game to Hartenstein’s 9.2.
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Head coach: Mark Daigneault vs Rick Carlisle
Mark Daigneault (left) and Rick Carlisle (right)
This coaching matchup is a study in contrasts. The Indiana Pacers are led by Rick Carlisle, a veteran with over four decades of NBA experience as a player and coach. He won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and was named Coach of the Year in 2002.
On the other side is Mark Daigneault, who became the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020. Though it’s his first stint in the role, he has already proven his ability by shaping this young Thunder team into one of the league’s most exciting contenders. He, too, has a Coach of the Year award to his name—earned just last season.
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