Where do the 2024-2025 OKC Thunder rank among recent NBA Champions

The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship one week ago in a winner-take all Game 7. They defeated the Indiana Pacers and came out victorious. They overcame the odds after being down 2-1 in the series. Their run to a championship should not be overlooked. The Thunder won 68 regular season games, the most regular season wins of the 21st century. They were a championship contender built on youth and athleticism; the second youngest team to win a NBA championship in NBA history. Defense was the Thunders calling. Their ability to hold a team under 110 points was their greatest strength. They lacked the best 3 point shooting but their fast pace offense was like no other. The Thunder’s duo of MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams put them selves in the conversation for best scoring duo. Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams averaged 29 and 21 points per game during their championship run. A dynamic duo reminisent to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. A case can be made for the 2025 Thunder to be the greatest champion of the 21st century. 68 wins and a championship holds all the bragging rights. Their regular season dominance was one of a kind. However, their playoff run saw them overcome several hurdles compared to recent champions. The Thunder went 16-7 during their championship run, playing two different Game 7s in the process. Champions like the 2017 Golden State Warriors and 2024 Boston Celtics had little to no adversity to overcome compared to the 2025 OKC Thunder. So where do the Thunder rank among recent NBA Champions? Is their championship looked at differently due to their age group? The NBA has seen a new champion each year since 2019. Ranking champions will always be a difficult task when reflecting on each team’s success.