Thunder Wins 2025 NBA Finals, Caruso Highlights Second Championship

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their first NBA championship since relocating in 2008 by defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, marking a historic 84-win season including playoffs. Veteran Alex Caruso, who previously won a ring with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2020 pandemic-era bubble, celebrated this second title as more legitimate, jokingly stating, "Now I got a real one, now nobody can say anything," a comment he later clarified was sarcasm. Caruso played a key role throughout the playoffs, providing leadership to the young Thunder roster, which is the second-youngest team to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Thunder's victory was aided by the Pacers losing star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury early in the decisive game. Caruso also helped his teammates celebrate their win, including teaching them how to pop champagne bottles, highlighting the youthful inexperience on the team despite their championship success. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA Finals MVP, capping an extraordinary season where he also won the regular-season MVP and scoring title, underscoring the Thunder's rise as a dominant force.