Young Guns in the Finals: Why the Thunder Are Still the Favorites

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From the latest episode of Harrison Talks Pod

This year’s NBA Finals are a breath of fresh air. Two deep, well-coached teams built the right way. And while the Indiana Pacers have been a thrill to watch, one thing is clear: The Oklahoma City Thunder are still the favorites, and it’s because of their depth, discipline, and defense.

Built, Not Bought: Why OKC’s Core Is So Dangerous

Both teams in this series share something rare: homegrown rosters. But OKC has a blend of youth and experience that feels uniquely sustainable. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (your 2025 MVP) leads the charge with calm, pace, and elite shot-making. But it’s not just Shai, it’s the structure around him.

  • Chet Holmgren’s rim protection

  • Jalen Williams’ switchability and scoring

  • Caruso’s veteran IQ and perimeter defense

  • Aaron Wiggins, Ousmane Dieng, Isaiah Joe — all plug-and-play rotation guys

In Game 1 of their series against Minnesota, 10 players played over 10 minutes. By Game 5, they had played all 15 rostered players for at least 5 minutes. That’s not just rotation depth — that’s trust and purpose.

Midseason Moves That Elevated Everything

The Thunder front office made subtle but seismic moves this season:

  • Trading Josh Giddey opened the door for Jalen Williams to thrive as a secondary creator.

  • Caruso’s arrival added elite defensive versatility and veteran presence.

  • Isaiah Hartenstein gave them a tough, mobile big who fits their switch-heavy scheme.

These weren’t blockbuster deals, they were fit moves, and they reshaped the Thunder’s playoff DNA.

One unforgettable highlight? Caruso guarding Jokic during a small-ball stretch. That tells you everything about this team’s confidence and flexibility.

Coaching & Composure: Beating the West Was No Fluke

This wasn’t a fluky run. OKC closed out experienced playoff teams with maturity and grit. They survived a brutal Western Conference, beat the defending champion Nuggets in seven, and held off the Timberwolves’ athletic front line.

If you’re a Clippers fan, this postseason was rough. It felt like the final chapter of the Kawhi–PG era. Meanwhile, SGA, the player you traded away, just lifted the MVP trophy. Hopefully there’s still some pride in watching him rise.

Too Many Assets? A Good Problem to Have

Here’s the wild part: the Thunder might be too loaded. With a war chest of draft picks (15 firsts and 22 seconds through 2031), they’re set up to either:

  1. Draft and develop another wave of stars, or

  2. Package picks for a blockbuster move in the offseason.

Players like Wallace and Dieng already show flashes of long-term starter potential. There’s no rush. But the question lingers:

If you’re Sam Presti, do you cash in now, or wait another year?

The Looming CBA Storm

The catch? The new CBA’s second apron could make it nearly impossible to keep this core together long-term.

  • SGA could be making $60M/year by 2027

  • Jalen and Chet will demand $35–45M/year each by 2026

  • Role players like Dort and Caruso already make $10–15M

By 2026, OKC could be paying over $140M for their top three guys — and that’s before accounting for the rest of their 10-man rotation.

Bottom Line: Youth, Depth, and Discipline Win Championships

This Finals is historic, the first time in the modern era that two non-tax teams have made it. That’s no accident. It’s a testament to smart roster-building, coaching, and internal growth.

And no one embodies that better than the Thunder.

🎧 Want to hear the full breakdown?
Catch the latest episode of Harrison Talks Pod where we dive deep into OKC’s playoff journey, their asset overload, and what makes this Finals so different from the superteam era.

🔗 Listen to the Episode
🌐 Harrison’s Linktree

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