Category: OKC Thunder Blog

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2025 NBA Finals game schedule

The 2025 NBA Finals game schedule for the (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (4) Indiana Pacers matchup:

• Game 1: Pacers at Thunder (Thu. June 5, 8:30 ET, ABC)

• Game 2: Pacers at Thunder (Sun. June 8, 8 ET, ABC)

• Game 3: Thunder at Pacers (Wed. June 11, 8:30 ET, ABC)

• Game 4: Thunder at Pacers (Fri. June 13, 8:30 ET, ABC)

• Game 5: Pacers at Thunder (Mon. June 16, 8:30 ET, ABC)*

• Game 6: Thunder at Pacers (Thu. June 19, 8:30 ET, ABC)*

• Game 7: Pacers at Thunder (Sun, June 22, 8 ET on ABC)*

* if necessary

Thunder advance to 2025 NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the NBA Western Conference champions and have advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, winning the series 4-1.

With its second NBA Finals appearance, the Thunder will now play the winner of the Eastern Conference finals series matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.

With the Thunder’s home-court advantage, the Finals schedule begins at Paycom Center and is as follows:

Game 1, Thursday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 2, Sunday, June 8, 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 3, Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 4, Friday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 5 (if necessary), Monday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary), Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 7 (if necessary), Sunday, June 22, 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player award

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the recipient of the Michael Jordan Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA MVP for the first time, having finished second in the voting last season and fifth in 2022-23. He becomes the second player from Canada to earn the honor, along with two-time winner Steve Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06). Gilgeous-Alexander is also the third player to win the award with the Thunder, joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17).

In the 2024-25 regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes in 76 games, setting career highs in points, assists and blocks per game.

A seven-year veteran, Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA scoring title for the first time. He became the first player to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13) and 50 points (four) in a season since James Harden in 2018-19.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s only regular-season game with fewer than 20 points was an 18-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 30, 2024. He scored at least 20 points in each of his final 72 games, the longest streak at any point in a single season since 1963-64 (when Wilt Chamberlain recorded an 80-game streak and Oscar Robertson had a 76-game streak).

The 6-6 Gilgeous-Alexander shot 51.9% from the field, a career-high 37.5% from three-point range and 89.8% from the free throw line (sixth in the NBA). He made an NBA-leading 601 free throws and a personal-best 163 three-pointers, 68 more threes than his previous career high of 95, set last season.

Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32.0 points and 6.0 assists per game and shoot 50.0% or better from the field in a season. Jordan accomplished the feat twice, in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.

On defense, Gilgeous-Alexander was the only qualifying NBA player to average at least 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He ranked fifth in the NBA in steals per game for a Thunder team that led the league in defensive rating (106.6).

In addition to being selected as an NBA All-Star for the third consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month three times (October/November, December and March) and the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week twice (Weeks 10 and 20). He earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team of the Emirates NBA Cup after leading Oklahoma City to a runner-up finish.

Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder (68-14) finished atop the NBA and tied for the sixth-best single-season record in league history. Oklahoma City outscored opponents by an NBA-record 12.9 points per game.

Thunder Executive Sam Presti wins 2024-25 NBA Basketball Executive of Year award

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti has been named the 2024-25 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year.

Presti has earned the annual honor for the first time. He previously finished second in the voting three times (2009-10, 2019-20 and 2023-24).

Presti assembled a team that went an NBA-leading 68-14 in the 2024-25 regular season, tied for the sixth-best record in league history. Oklahoma City set the NBA record for scoring differential, outscoring opponents by 12.9 points per game.

Last offseason, Presti’s player acquisitions included guard Alex Caruso and center Isaiah Hartenstein. Caruso, a Kia NBA All-Defensive Team selection in each of the previous two seasons, averaged 7.1 points and 1.61 steals per game and helped Oklahoma City lead the NBA in defensive rating (106.6) this season. Hartenstein averaged career highs of 11.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in his first season with the Thunder.

Presti is in his 18th season with the Thunder franchise after being named general manager in June 2007. Prior to that, he spent seven years with the San Antonio Spurs, rising from video intern to vice president/assistant general manager.

Thunder sign Branden Carlson to Two-Way Contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Branden Carlson to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Carlson (7-0, 220) has appeared in 15 games for the Thunder this season after originally being signed on November 16, 2024. The Utah native scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 and he is averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game this season with the Thunder.

In five games (all starts) for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA’s G League this season, Carlson is averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest.

Thunder sign Ajay Mitchell to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Ajay Mitchell to a multi-year contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In 34 games (one start) this season, Mitchell is averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16.5 minutes. He is one of two rookies this season shooting at least 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

Oklahoma City originally acquired the 2024 draft rights to guard Ajay Mitchell (selected 38th overall) on draft night from the New York Knicks.

Pelicans trade Daniel Theis to Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired center Daniel Theis and a 2031 second-round draft pick in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Theis [tice] (6-8, 254) has appeared in 411 career games (160 starts) and averaged 7.1 points on 53.7% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.8 minutes per game over the course of eight NBA seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The 2031 second-round draft pick acquired by the Thunder is the least favorable of New Orleans and Orlando.

Thunder sign Branden Carlson to second 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Branden Carlson to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Carlson (7-0, 220) has appeared in 13 games for the Thunder this season after originally being signed on November 16. The Utah native scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 and has totaled 37 points and 23 rebounds in 81 minutes of action this season.

In five games (all starts) for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA’s G League, Carlson has averaged 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named West Player of Month for October and November 2024

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in October/November.

This marks the second Player of the Month honor for Gilgeous-Alexander. He appeared in 19 games (all starts) and averaged 29.8 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the field to go along with 6.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.68 steals and 1.11 blocks in 34.5 minutes per game, as Oklahoma City went 15-4 during that stretch.

Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player in NBA history to register 45+ points, 9+ assists, 5+ steals and 2+ blocks in a single game in a 134-128 win over the Clippers on 11/11.

He recently joined Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird as the only players to ever average at least 29.0 points on 50% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.50 steals and 1.00 block through the first 20 games of a season.