The NBA likes to promote that historical past can be made each postseason, however that assertion means extra this yr. With each convention finals matchups set, NBA followers are assured to witness a historic championship it doesn’t matter what occurs.
After beating the Denver Nuggets 125-93 in a Recreation 7 on Sunday, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder superior to the franchise’s first Western Convention Finals since 2016. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now has Oklahoma Metropolis one collection away from reaching the NBA Finals after which attempting to cap off their 68-win common season with a championship.
The final time a Thunder workforce appeared within the NBA Finals was again in 2012, solely 4 years after the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma Metropolis. Again then, a workforce led by a younger Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and with James Harden coming off the bench misplaced to LeBron James’ Miami Warmth “Massive 3” within the Finals.
Technically, the Thunder franchise does personal one NBA title from the SuperSonics’ title in 1979. However a championship this yr could be the primary for Oklahoma Metropolis.
Standing on this Thunder workforce’s method is Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whereas Edwards has made Minnesota a perennial contender since his arrival because the No. 1 total draft choose within the 2020 NBA Draft, the Timberwolves will now play in solely the franchise’s third convention finals ever.
And after falling to the Dallas Mavericks one yr in the past, Edwards is battle-tested and able to lead the Timberwolves to their first-ever journey to the NBA Finals, an achievement that will assist cement his place as one of many new faces of the league.
Over within the East, basketball followers are going to be handled to an old-school collection between two fan bases ravenous for a parade.
The New York Knicks are within the Jap Convention Finals for the primary time in 25 years. And similar to in 2000, 1999 and 1994 earlier than that, the Knicks will meet the rival Indiana Pacers with the NBA Finals on the road.
Mockingly sufficient, the final time the Pacers had been within the NBA Finals was 2000 after defeating New York. The Knicks’ final NBA Finals was the ultimate one of many earlier century in 1999. However neither workforce gained in these years, or any yr since 1973.
The Knicks’ final championship got here 52 years in the past. And regardless that the Pacers have by no means gained an NBA title, their title drought is technically the identical size of time. Indiana was additionally a champion in 1973, capturing the Pacers’ final ABA championship earlier than the NBA-ABA merger in 1976.
However the previous is the previous, and this season’s Knicks and Pacers have proved themselves to be worthy of their new alternative.
Jalen Brunson lifted New York to a surprising second spherical collection win over the defending champion Boston Celtics in six video games. Indiana knocked out the East’s high seed Cleveland Cavaliers in convincing trend in 5.
So now no matter which groups find yourself battling it out within the NBA Finals, the matchup and eventual champion is assured to be historic. An extended title drought is destined to go down this summer time a method or one other, making this postseason memorable and one for the historical past books.
