Ranking Players in the 2025 NBA Finals: Thunder vs. Pacers

After six weeks of intense playoff action across both conferences, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers are set to begin the NBA Finals on Thursday. This best-of-seven series will determine which team earns the championship title. While Indiana holds multiple ABA titles, Oklahoma City`s single NBA crown came from its time as the Seattle SuperSonics. Whichever team wins, it will mark the seventh consecutive season with a new champion, setting a new record for parity in the NBA.

This series is expected to deliver thrilling basketball. The Oklahoma City Thunder, representing the Western Conference, had the league`s best defense this season, while the Indiana Pacers, coming from the Eastern Conference, boast one of the NBA`s elite offenses. Both teams play with a relentless, full-court approach designed to wear down the opposition.

To prepare you for the upcoming action, we`ve analyzed and ranked our top 20 players participating in the Finals. This ranking is based on their performance throughout the 2024-25 regular season, their contributions in the playoffs so far, and their potential impact on this specific series.

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1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder

Unsurprisingly, the NBA`s Most Valuable Player tops this list. He led the 68-win Thunder on an impressive run through the Western Conference bracket, bringing Oklahoma City back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. As he has done all season, Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to frequently attack the rim and operate effectively in the midrange throughout this series. His offensive pressure could easily put Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, Indiana`s primary wing defenders, into foul trouble. It appears difficult for Indiana to completely stop Gilgeous-Alexander; the Pacers will likely be content if they can prevent him from single-handedly dismantling their defense. — Tim Bontemps

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2. Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers

Following a somewhat slow start, potentially affected by lingering hamstring issues, Haliburton has performed at an elite level since the start of 2025. Over the final 39 games of the regular season, he averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 assists, shooting 51% overall and 43% from three-point range. According to NBA Advanced Stats, Haliburton has generated a league-leading 25.3 points per game through assists during the playoffs, and he hit crucial shots in several of Indiana`s improbable postseason comeback victories. The main question for this series is how Haliburton will fare against a Thunder defense packed with elite on-ball defenders. As noted by ESPN`s Zach Kram, Haliburton has averaged only 12 PPG against Oklahoma City over the past two seasons, his lowest mark against any opponent. — Kevin Pelton

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3. Pascal Siakam, Pacers

Siakam, who was named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals, is the only player in Indiana`s rotation with prior NBA Finals experience. He was a key member of the 2019 Toronto Raptors championship team, scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to clinch the series in Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors. Siakam has seamlessly fit in with the Pacers and Haliburton since his arrival less than 18 months ago. He will need to maintain the high level of play shown in the conference finals if Indiana hopes to make this a competitive, extended series. — Tim Bontemps

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4. Jalen Williams, Thunder

The Western Conference Finals represented a significant step forward for Williams in his development as a championship-level second option. He struggled against the Denver Nuggets` zone defense in Round 2 – similar to last season`s series loss in the same round to the Dallas Mavericks – shooting a combined 10-of-43 (23%) over Games 3 through 5 before a breakout 24-point performance in Game 7. However, against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals, Williams averaged 22.2 PPG on 49% shooting, including an impressive 12-of-26 (46%) from beyond the arc. If Williams can replicate that production in the Finals, the Thunder are highly likely to raise their first championship banner in Oklahoma City. — Kevin Pelton

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5. Chet Holmgren, Thunder

Holmgren had his best series of the playoffs against the Timberwolves in the West finals, surpassing 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 spend time guarding both Siakam and Myles Turner in this series. As always, he will play a vital role in the Thunder`s swarming defense, which aims to slow down the high-powered Pacers offense. Similar to Williams, if Holmgren can sustain his offensive effectiveness against Indiana, the Thunder will be extremely difficult to defeat. — Tim Bontemps

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6. Alex Caruso, Thunder

While Caruso hasn`t started any playoff games yet, he is clearly one of coach Mark Daigneault`s most trusted players in crucial moments due to his significant defensive impact and reliable three-point shooting. Caruso started the second half in the Thunder`s two most important wins so far: effectively guarding Nikola Jokic in Game 7 against Denver and contributing to Oklahoma City`s Game 4 victory in Minneapolis to take control of the West finals. OKC`s defense is consistently strong, and adding Caruso`s disruptive presence elevates it to a historically elite level. — Kevin Pelton

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7. Aaron Nesmith, Pacers

Nesmith has emerged as one of the breakout players of these playoffs. His exceptional performance in Game 1 of Indiana`s Eastern Conference Finals win over the New York Knicks almost single-handedly fueled the Pacers` 17-point fourth-quarter comeback. He also did an excellent job guarding Jalen Brunson before a right ankle sprain hampered his series. Nesmith, who has shot an outstanding 50% from three-point range during the postseason, will have a crucial role in the Finals, tasked with guarding either Gilgeous-Alexander or Williams. Nesmith`s health and shooting touch will need to be optimal for the Pacers to have a chance at winning this series. — Tim Bontemps

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8. Myles Turner, Pacers

Turner provides a crucial stretch element to Indiana`s offense that helps the entire system function smoothly. Long before versatile big men like Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama redefined offensive capabilities for centers, Turner was consistently making more than one three-pointer per game. His 2.2 made threes this season (at 40% accuracy) was a career high. Turner has also elevated his rim protection during the playoffs, blocking a league-high 7% of opponents` two-point attempts, a rate he hadn`t achieved in the regular season since 2021-22. — Kevin Pelton

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9. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder

Hartenstein possesses the potential to significantly impact rebounding in the Finals, much like Mitchell Robinson did for the Knicks in the East finals. Hartenstein, an excellent rebounder, has seen his playing time fluctuate throughout the playoffs. However, it is likely he will be able to make a substantial difference when Turner is resting and Indiana utilizes their smaller bench lineup. — Tim Bontemps

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10. Luguentz Dort, Thunder

A first-time selection to the NBA All-Defensive first team who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Dort will likely be assigned the task of defending Haliburton when both teams have their starting lineups on the court. According to GeniusIQ tracking, Haliburton has scored only eight points in 122 matchups against Dort over the past two seasons, easily his lowest per-matchup total against any defender he has faced at least 100 times during that period. For Dort to remain on the court to guard Haliburton, he also needs to be an offensive threat. He is shooting just 30% on three-pointers in the playoffs after hitting a career-high 41% in the regular season. — Kevin Pelton

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11. Andrew Nembhard, Pacers

Nembhard is a solid defender and an excellent backcourt partner for Haliburton, complementing his skills well. Nembhard has significantly improved his three-point shooting, going from 29% in the regular season to 48% in these playoffs. This improvement has been a major factor in Indiana`s run to the Finals, and it`s something he needs to continue against OKC, as the Thunder are likely to play with their characteristic frenetic defensive energy, a scheme that often creates open looks. Nembhard will also spend considerable time defending fellow Canadian Gilgeous-Alexander and must avoid foul trouble. — Tim Bontemps

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12. Cason Wallace, Thunder

Opposing ball handlers would be wise to heed a memorable quote from `The Wire` when Oklahoma City`s backup guard is on the court: “Where`s Wallace?” On a team loaded with elite defenders, Wallace might be the most effective on-ball option, having ranked third in steals per game (1.8) while averaging 27.6 minutes during the regular season. Here`s a remarkable statistic, via GeniusIQ tracking: When Wallace defends the player bringing the ball upcourt in the playoffs, Thunder opponents have averaged an offensive rating of just 92.6, compared to 108.3 with any other Oklahoma City defender. — Kevin Pelton

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13. Obi Toppin, Pacers

Playing against his former team in the postseason for the second consecutive year, Toppin had arguably his best performance in Indiana`s series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Knicks. He scored 18 points and impressively blocked three shots, after recording only two blocks in Indiana`s first 15 combined playoff games. Toppin`s shooting will be necessary against the Thunder. However, he must also be careful with the ball; he sometimes tends to be a bit careless with it, and no team capitalizes on turnovers better than Oklahoma City. — Tim Bontemps

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14. Aaron Wiggins, Thunder

Having averaged a career-high 12.0 PPG this season, the 2021 No. 55 draft pick provided key contributions as the Thunder eliminated Denver. Wiggins scored all 11 of his points in the second half of a crucial Game 4 road victory and ranked second among Oklahoma City reserves in scoring during that series, behind Caruso. Wiggins` minutes then decreased significantly against Minnesota, resulting in his first DNP-CD (Did Not Play – Coach`s Decision) of the season in Game 4, illustrating the depth of options on the Thunder`s bench. — Kevin Pelton

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15. Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers

Remarkably, Mathurin – the sixth overall pick in 2022 – is the highest draft selection on Indiana`s current roster. He is a talented but inconsistent scorer, putting up 20 points in Game 4 and 23 in Game 5 against the Knicks but tallying only 15 points across the other four games in that series. Like Toppin, Mathurin can sometimes be passive with the ball. In the minutes he plays in the Finals, Mathurin must avoid this tendency and prevent OKC`s turnover-forcing machine from creating easy offense. His size and athleticism on the wing could also be an important factor defensively. — Tim Bontemps

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16. Isaiah Joe, Thunder

The best shooter on a team that sometimes lacks consistent long-range threats, Joe averaged 10.5 three-point attempts per 36 minutes during the regular season and connected on them at a 41% rate. Among players averaging at least 10 attempts per 36 minutes, only Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Beasley shot better than 40%. Joe`s slight build can make him a defensive target in playoff situations, but he remains ready to shoot whenever the opportunity arises. — Kevin Pelton

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17. T.J. McConnell, Pacers

McConnell, a product often associated with `The Process` era in Philadelphia, has solidified his position as a permanent fixture in Indiana`s rotation as Haliburton`s backup. He changes the game`s tempo and effectively attacks the lane whenever he`s on the court. However, as the Knicks adjusted their rotation in the conference finals to play Delon Wright more, McConnell`s production decreased, dropping from double-digit scoring in the first three games to just 15 points combined over the final three. Given the talent of Oklahoma City`s perimeter defenders, it remains to be seen if this trend will reverse in the Finals. — Tim Bontemps

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18. Ben Sheppard, Pacers

Sheppard`s role has grown increasingly important throughout the playoffs, to the extent that he played more minutes than Mathurin in the conference finals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has been able to rely on Sheppard to make three-pointers (42% in the playoffs, a notable increase from 34% in the regular season) and provide competent defense, although guarding Jalen Brunson might have been a challenge too demanding for him. Sheppard will undoubtedly be needed in a similar capacity in this series. — Kevin Pelton

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19. Kenrich Williams, Thunder

In his fifth season with the Thunder, Williams saw his playing time increase significantly. After barely featuring in the first two rounds, he appeared in all five games of the Western Conference Finals. His versatility to play as a very small-ball center at 6-6 or as a power forward, combined with his three-point shooting (21.4% this postseason) and defensive capability, could make him a valuable option for OKC in a couple of different roles throughout this series. — Tim Bontemps

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20. Jaylin Williams, Thunder

It`s a testament to Oklahoma City`s impressive depth that Williams, effectively the team`s 11th man, was so productive when starting this season. He recorded three triple-doubles in nine starts, averaging 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists despite leaving one of those games after only two minutes due to an ankle injury. Williams` primary role has been defending physically imposing centers like Jokic, which means this particular series matchup doesn`t align perfectly with his specific defensive strengths. — Kevin Pelton

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