After six weeks of compelling playoff action across both conferences, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers are set to clash in the NBA Finals starting Thursday. This best-of-seven series will determine which franchise secures its first NBA championship. (The Pacers hold multiple ABA titles, while Oklahoma City`s single NBA crown dates back to the Seattle SuperSonics era.) This series also guarantees the league`s seventh consecutive unique champion, setting a new benchmark for competitive balance in the NBA.
The series promises thrilling basketball. Oklahoma City, representing the Western Conference, boasted the league`s top defense this season. Conversely, the Eastern Conference champion Pacers feature one of the NBA`s most potent offenses. Both teams employ a high-tempo, full-court approach designed to wear down opponents.
To prepare you for the upcoming battle, we`ve compiled our ranking of the top 20 players participating in the Finals. This ranking considers their performance throughout the 2024-25 season and the playoffs to date, alongside their projected impact on this specific series.
- 1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
- 2. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
- 3. Pascal Siakam, Pacers
- 4. Jalen Williams, Thunder
- 5. Chet Holmgren, Thunder
- 6. Alex Caruso, Thunder
- 7. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers
- 8. Myles Turner, Pacers
- 9. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
- 10. Luguentz Dort, Thunder
- 11. Andrew Nembhard, Pacers
- 12. Cason Wallace, Thunder
- 13. Obi Toppin, Pacers
- 14. Aaron Wiggins, Thunder
- 15. Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers
- 16. Isaiah Joe, Thunder
- 17. T.J. McConnell, Pacers
- 18. Ben Sheppard, Pacers
- 19. Kenrich Williams, Thunder
- 20. Jaylin Williams, Thunder
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Unsurprisingly, the NBA`s Most Valuable Player leads this list. He spearheaded the 68-win Thunder`s impressive run through the Western Conference bracket, guiding Oklahoma City to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. Throughout the series, Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to frequently attack the basket and operate effectively in the midrange area, potentially drawing fouls from Indiana`s primary wing defenders, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard. Containing Gilgeous-Alexander presents a significant challenge for the Pacers; simply preventing him from single-handedly dismantling their defense would be a favorable outcome for Indiana.
2. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
After a cautious start, possibly influenced by lingering hamstring issues, Haliburton has performed at an elite level since the beginning of 2025. In the final 39 regular-season games, he averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 assists, shooting efficiently at 51% overall and 43% from beyond the arc. According to NBA Advanced Stats, Haliburton has generated a league-leading 25.3 points via assists during the playoffs and delivered critical shots in several of Indiana`s remarkable postseason comeback victories. A key question mark is how Haliburton will navigate a Thunder defense packed with premier point-of-attack defenders. As noted by ESPN`s Zach Kram, Haliburton has averaged only 12 points per game against Oklahoma City over the past two seasons, his lowest average against any opponent.
3. Pascal Siakam, Pacers
Siakam, who earned MVP honors in the Eastern Conference Finals, is the sole player in Indiana`s rotation with prior NBA Finals experience. He was a vital member of the 2019 Toronto Raptors championship squad, contributing 26 points and 10 rebounds in the series-clinching Game 6 victory against the Golden State Warriors. Siakam has seamlessly integrated with the Pacers and Haliburton since his arrival less than 18 months ago. For Indiana to extend this series, Siakam must maintain the high level of play he demonstrated in the conference finals.
4. Jalen Williams, Thunder
The Western Conference Finals marked a significant developmental stride for Williams as a championship-level second option. He encountered difficulties against the Denver Nuggets` zone defense in the second round – similar to their series loss to the Dallas Mavericks last season – shooting a combined 10-of-43 (23%) in Games 3 through 5 before a strong 24-point performance in Game 7. However, against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals, Williams elevated his game, averaging 22.2 points per game on 49% shooting, including an impressive 12-of-26 (46%) from three-point range. Should Williams replicate that offensive production in the Finals, it significantly increases the likelihood of the Thunder raising their first championship banner in Oklahoma City.
5. Chet Holmgren, Thunder
Holmgren delivered his strongest playoff series performance against the Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, exceeding 20 points in three of the five games and shooting 56.7% for the series. The versatile 7-foot-1 big man is expected to guard both Siakam and Myles Turner in this series and, as always, will be a central figure in the Thunder`s aggressive, swarming defensive scheme aimed at neutralizing the high-powered Pacers offense. Similar to Williams, if Holmgren can sustain his offensive output against Indiana, the Thunder will be formidable opponents.
6. Alex Caruso, Thunder
While Caruso hasn`t started in the playoffs, he is clearly one of coach Mark Daigneault`s most trusted players in critical moments due to his defensive prowess and reliable three-point shooting. Caruso began the second half in the Thunder`s two most crucial wins so far, effectively matching up against Nikola Jokic in Game 7 against Denver and contributing significantly to Oklahoma City`s Game 4 road victory in Minnesota, which shifted momentum in the West finals. OKC`s defense is consistently strong, and adding Caruso`s disruptive presence elevates it to a historically elite level.
7. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers
Nesmith has emerged as one of the standout performers of these playoffs. His exceptional play in Game 1 of Indiana`s Eastern Conference Finals win over the New York Knicks was almost solely responsible for powering the Pacers` 17-point fourth-quarter comeback. He also provided solid defense against Jalen Brunson before a right ankle sprain hindered his performance later in the series. Nesmith, who has shot 50% from three-point range during the postseason, will have a vital role in the Finals, guarding either Gilgeous-Alexander or Williams. His health and consistent shooting will be crucial for the Pacers` championship aspirations.
8. Myles Turner, Pacers
Turner provides a floor-stretching element to Indiana`s offense that helps all the pieces fit together. Long before centers like Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama revolutionized offensive capabilities, Turner was already consistently making more than one three-pointer per game. This season, he achieved a career-high with 2.2 made threes per game on 40% accuracy. Turner has also elevated his rim protection during the playoffs, leading the league by blocking 7% of opponents` two-point attempts, a rate he hasn`t achieved in the regular season since 2021-22.
9. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
Hartenstein possesses the potential to dominate the rebounding battle in the Finals, much like Mitchell Robinson did for the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Minutes for Hartenstein, an excellent rebounder, have varied throughout the playoffs, but he is likely to have a considerable impact when Turner rests and Indiana deploys their smaller bench unit. His ability to control the glass could be a key factor.
10. Luguentz Dort, Thunder
Named to the NBA All-Defensive first team for the first time and finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Dort is expected to be assigned to defend Haliburton when both teams start their primary lineups. According to GeniusIQ tracking, Haliburton has scored only eight points in 122 possessions guarded by Dort over the past two seasons, marking his lowest per-matchup scoring rate against any defender he has faced at least 100 times in that period. To remain on the court to defend Haliburton effectively, Dort also needs to contribute offensively. He is currently shooting just 30% from three in the playoffs after hitting a career-best 41% during the regular season.
11. Andrew Nembhard, Pacers
Nembhard is a dependable defender and an effective backcourt partner for Haliburton, complementing his skills well. Nembhard has dramatically improved his three-point shooting from 29% in the regular season to an impressive 48% in these playoffs. This shooting leap has been instrumental in Indiana`s run to the Finals and is something he must continue against OKC. The Thunder`s relentless defensive energy often creates open looks, which Nembhard needs to convert. As a fellow Canadian, Nembhard will also spend significant time guarding Gilgeous-Alexander and must avoid foul trouble.
12. Cason Wallace, Thunder
Indiana`s ball handlers would be wise to heed a classic quote from `The Wire` whenever Oklahoma City`s backup guard is on the floor: “Where`s Wallace?” On a team loaded with elite defenders, Wallace might be the most skilled on-ball option. He ranked third in steals per game (1.8) while averaging 27.6 minutes during the regular season. Here`s a remarkable statistic from GeniusIQ tracking: When Wallace defends the player bringing the ball up the court in the playoffs, Thunder opponents have recorded an offensive rating of just 92.6, compared to 108.3 when guarded by any other Oklahoma City defender.
13. Obi Toppin, Pacers
Playing against his former team in the postseason for the second consecutive year, Toppin arguably had his best performance in Indiana`s series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Knicks. He tallied 18 points and blocked three shots in that game, notably after recording just two blocks across Indiana`s first 15 playoff games combined. Toppin`s shooting will be necessary against the Thunder`s defense. However, he must also be careful with the ball; he can be prone to recklessness at times, and no team is better at exploiting turnovers than Oklahoma City.
14. Aaron Wiggins, Thunder
Having averaged a career-high 12.0 points per game this season, Wiggins, the 55th pick in the 2021 draft, provided crucial support as the Thunder eliminated Denver. He scored all 11 of his points in the second half of a vital Game 4 road win and ranked second among Oklahoma City reserves in scoring during that series, trailing only Caruso. Wiggins saw reduced minutes and even a DNP-CD (Did Not Play – Coach`s Decision) in Game 4 against Minnesota, illustrating the depth and flexibility of the Thunder`s bench rotation.
15. Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers
Remarkably, Mathurin, the sixth overall selection in 2022, is the highest draft pick on Indiana`s current roster. He is a talented but inconsistent scorer, posting 20 points in Game 4 and 23 in Game 5 against the Knicks, but totaling just 15 points across the other four games in that series. Like Toppin, Mathurin can occasionally become passive with the ball. In his minutes during the Finals, Mathurin must proactively engage to avoid becoming a target for OKC`s turnover-forcing defense, which can easily convert miscues into points. His size and athleticism on the wing could also be a defensive factor.
16. Isaiah Joe, Thunder
As the premier shooter on a team that sometimes lacks perimeter threats, Joe attempted 10.5 three-pointers per 36 minutes during the regular season, converting them at a 41% rate. Among players attempting at least 10 threes per 36 minutes, only Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Beasley shot better than 40%. Joe`s relatively slight build can make him a defensive target in playoff matchups, but he remains ready to capitalize on any shooting opportunities.
17. T.J. McConnell, Pacers
McConnell, a product of Philadelphia`s `The Process` era, has solidified his position in Indiana`s rotation as Haliburton`s backup, influencing the game with his rapid pace and ability to attack the paint whenever he`s on the court. However, as the Knicks adjusted their rotation in the conference finals to feature Delon Wright more, McConnell`s output decreased; he went from scoring in double digits in the first three games to accumulating just 15 points over the final three. Given the caliber of Oklahoma City`s perimeter defenders, it remains uncertain if this trend will reverse in the Finals.
18. Ben Sheppard, Pacers
Sheppard`s role has gained increasing importance throughout the playoffs, to the extent that he played more minutes than Mathurin in the conference finals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has relied on Sheppard for his reliable three-point shooting (42% in the playoffs, up from 34% in the regular season) and competent defense, although guarding Jalen Brunson proved to be a challenging assignment. Sheppard will undoubtedly be needed in a similar capacity during this series.
19. Kenrich Williams, Thunder
In his fifth season with the Thunder, Williams saw limited minutes in the initial playoff rounds but appeared in all five games of the Western Conference Finals. His versatility, capable of playing as a very small-ball center at 6-6 or a power forward, combined with his three-point shooting (21.4% this postseason) and defensive effort, could make him a rotational option for OKC in different roles during this series.
20. Jaylin Williams, Thunder
Oklahoma City`s impressive depth is highlighted by the fact that Williams, often the team`s 11th man, was remarkably productive as a starter this season. He recorded three triple-doubles in nine starts, averaging 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, despite leaving one game early due to an ankle injury. Williams` primary role has involved defending physical centers like Nikola Jokic, a specific skill set that might not be as frequently utilized in this particular series matchup.
