NBA Finals 2025: Ranking (almost) every player in Thunder-Pacers

It comes as no surprise that the NBA`s Most Valuable Player leads this list. He spearheaded the 68-win Thunder`s impressive postseason charge through the Western bracket, guiding Oklahoma City back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. Throughout this series, much like his entire season, Gilgeous-Alexander will frequently drive to the rim and operate from the midrange. He possesses the ability to easily put Indiana`s primary wing defenders, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, into foul trouble. Indiana faces a difficult challenge in slowing down Gilgeous-Alexander, and they will likely be content if they can prevent him from dismantling their defense single-handedly.

After a tentative start, possibly affected by lingering hamstring issues, Haliburton has performed at an elite level since the start of 2025. In the final 39 regular season games, he averaged 19.5 points and 9.7 assists, shooting an efficient 51% overall and 43% from three-point range. According to NBA Advanced Stats, Haliburton has generated a league-leading 25.3 points through his passes during the playoffs, and he hit crucial shots in several of Indiana`s remarkable playoff comebacks. The main question is how Haliburton will fare against a Thunder defense loaded with top-tier on-ball defenders. As ESPN`s Zach Kram noted, Haliburton has averaged only 12 PPG against Oklahoma City over the last two seasons, his lowest scoring average against any opponent.

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 squad, notably scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to seal the series in Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors. Siakam has seamlessly integrated with the Pacers and Haliburton since his arrival less than 18 months ago. For Indiana to have a realistic chance at extending this series, he will need to replicate his high level of play from the conference finals.

The Western Conference Finals marked a significant developmental stride for Williams in becoming a championship-caliber complementary star. He struggled against the Denver Nuggets` zone defense in Round 2 – similar to last season`s second-round loss to the Dallas Mavericks – shooting a combined 10-of-43 (23%) over Games 3 through 5 before exploding for 24 points 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 maintains this performance level in the Finals, the Thunder are highly likely to secure their first championship banner in Oklahoma City.

Holmgren delivered his most impactful 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 guard both Siakam and Myles Turner at different times in this series and will, as always, play a crucial role in the Thunder`s aggressive, swarming defense designed to contain the high-powered Pacers offense. Similar to Williams, if Holmgren can sustain his offensive production against Indiana, the Thunder will be exceedingly difficult to defeat.

Although Caruso has yet to start a playoff game this year, he is clearly one of Coach Mark Daigneault`s most trusted options in critical moments due to his significant defensive influence and reliable three-point shooting. Caruso started the second half in the Thunder`s two most crucial victories so far, effectively matching up with Nikola Jokic in Game 7 of the Denver series and contributing to Oklahoma City`s Game 4 win 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.

Nesmith has emerged as one of the standout players of these playoffs. His exceptional performance in Game 1 of Indiana`s Eastern Conference Finals win over the New York Knicks nearly single-handedly powered the Pacers` 17-point fourth-quarter comeback. He also excelled in guarding Jalen Brunson before a right ankle sprain hampered him later in the series. Nesmith, who has shot 50% from three-point range during the postseason, will play a vital role in the Finals by guarding either Gilgeous-Alexander or Williams. Nesmith`s health and shooting accuracy will be crucial for the Pacers` chances in this series.

Turner provides a vital stretch element to Indiana`s offense that helps the entire system function smoothly. Long before modern big men like Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama reshaped offensive expectations for centers, Turner was already consistently making more than one three-pointer per game. This season, his 2.2 made threes per game (on 40% accuracy) marked a career best. Turner has also significantly improved his rim protection during the playoffs, blocking a league-high 7% of opponent two-point attempts – a rate he hadn`t achieved in the regular season since 2021-22.

Hartenstein possesses the capability to dominate rebounding in the Finals, similar to Mitchell Robinson`s impact for the Knicks in the East finals. While Hartenstein, an excellent rebounder, has seen his minutes fluctuate during the playoffs, it`s highly likely he will make a significant impact when Turner is resting and Indiana employs its smaller bench lineups. His presence will be key on the boards.

Recognized with a first-time selection to the NBA All-Defensive first team and finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting, Dort is the likely candidate to defend Haliburton when both teams have their starting lineups on the court. According to GeniusIQ tracking, Haliburton has scored only eight points across 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. To remain on the court for defense, Dort must also contribute offensively. His three-point shooting has dipped to just 30% in the playoffs after hitting a career-high 41% in the regular season.

Nembhard is a reliable defender and complements Haliburton well in the backcourt with their differing skill sets. His three-point shooting has seen a remarkable improvement, jumping from 29% in the regular season to 48% in these playoffs. This shooting surge has been instrumental in Indiana`s run to the Finals and will need to continue against Oklahoma City, whose defense is known for its frenetic energy, often leading to open looks. Nembhard will also spend considerable time guarding fellow Canadian Gilgeous-Alexander and must be mindful of avoiding foul trouble.

Opposing ball handlers would be wise to heed one of the most famous lines from `The Wire` when Oklahoma City`s backup guard is on the floor: “Where`s Wallace?”. On a team boasting elite defenders, Wallace might be the best on-ball option, ranking third in steals per game (1.8) while averaging 27.6 minutes during the regular season. Here`s a compelling statistic, per GeniusIQ tracking: When Wallace defends the player advancing the ball upcourt in the playoffs, Thunder opponents have averaged an offensive rating of 92.6, significantly lower compared to 108.3 when any other Oklahoma City defender is in that role.

Playing against his former team in the postseason for the second consecutive year, Toppin arguably had his best game in Indiana`s series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Knicks. He scored 18 points and also blocked three shots, a notable feat after recording only two blocks through Indiana`s first 15 playoff games combined. Toppin`s scoring will be necessary against the Thunder, but he must also handle the ball with care; he can be somewhat prone to turnovers at times, and no team is better at capitalizing on those mistakes than Oklahoma City.

Having averaged a career-high 12.0 PPG this season, Wiggins, the 55th pick in the 2021 draft, provided crucial contributions during the Thunder`s series win over Denver. He scored all 11 of his points in the second half of a vital Game 4 road win and ranked second among Oklahoma City`s reserves in scoring during that series, behind Caruso. However, Wiggins` role diminished against Minnesota, culminating in his first DNP-CD (Did Not Play – Coach`s Decision) of the season in Game 4, illustrating the depth and options available on the Thunder`s bench.

Remarkably, Mathurin – the sixth overall pick in 2022 – is the highest draft selection on the Pacers` roster. He is a skilled but inconsistent scorer, posting 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 his minutes during the Finals, he must avoid this tendency and prevent OKC`s turnover-forcing defense from generating easy offense. His size and athleticism on the wing could also be valuable defensively.

As the premier shooter on a team that sometimes lacks consistent outside threats, Joe averaged 10.5 three-point attempts per 36 minutes during the regular season, connecting 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 slender build can make him a defensive target in playoff matchups, but he remains a critical floor-spacer ready to shoot when opportunities arise.

McConnell, a notable product of “The Process” era in Philadelphia, has solidified his role as a consistent part of Indiana`s rotation, serving as Haliburton`s backup. He impacts the game with his fast tempo and relentless ability to attack the paint whenever he`s on the court. However, as the Knicks adjusted their rotation in the conference finals to feature Delon Wright more, McConnell`s production declined, dropping from double-digit scoring in the first three games to just 15 points total over the final three. Given the talent of Oklahoma City`s perimeter defenders, it remains uncertain if this trend will reverse in the Finals.

Sheppard`s role has steadily grown in importance throughout the playoffs, to the extent that he played more minutes than Mathurin in the conference finals. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has come to rely on Sheppard for consistent three-point shooting (42% in the playoffs, a significant increase from 34% in the regular season) and capable defense, although guarding Jalen Brunson proved to be a difficult assignment. Sheppard will undoubtedly be needed in a similar capacity in this series, contributing shooting and defensive effort.

In his fifth season with the Thunder, Williams saw his playing time increase significantly, going from barely appearing in the initial rounds to participating in all five games of the Western Conference Finals. His versatility to play a very small-ball center role at 6-6 or as a power forward, combined with his three-point shooting (21.4% this postseason) and defensive capabilities, makes him a potential option for OKC in various roles during this series. His adaptability provides valuable depth.

It speaks volumes about Oklahoma City`s enviable depth that Jaylin Williams, primarily the team`s 11th man, was so productive when called upon as a starter this season. In nine starts, he recorded three triple-doubles, averaging 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, even though one of those starts was cut short after two minutes due to an ankle injury. Williams` main responsibility has typically been guarding physically imposing centers like Nikola Jokic, suggesting this specific series matchup might not align perfectly with his particular skill set compared to others.