The Oklahoma City Thunder are advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012 after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves. They'll face either the Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks. The Thunder, heavily favored to win the championship, share striking similarities with the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors: both teams featured first-time MVP point guards (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Stephen Curry respectively), top-ranked defenses, and the emergence of a second All-Star alongside their MVP. Both teams also benefited from a late-round draft pick who became a key defensive contributor (Lu Dort and Draymond Green). The Thunder's young core, led by Gilgeous-Alexander, positions them for sustained success, echoing the Warriors' trajectory after their 2015 title.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.