When it comes to the NBA Finals, there are fairly standard rewards that come with being the team to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for example, champagne showers, cigars, championship rings, and a banner in your arena that permanently puts you into franchise immortality.
But when I think about this edition of the Finals, featuring two young teams and the opportunity for either franchise to win its first championship (disregarding the SuperSonics’ title in 1979).
I’m more interested in the perception of the different parts of each team and what a championship would mean for the players, executives, and the future.
What It Would Mean For The Thunder?
Shai Officially Becomes The Best Player In The League
Clearly, Shai is a top 3 to 5 player in the league, and that was cemented by this campaign, which resulted in the 26-year-old Canadian earning his first, and potentially one of many, MVP trophies.
However, Shai, as the leader of this buzzsaw that has steamrolled the Western Conference, will likely be anointed the best player in the league.
His ability to stay in the blue at all times, score in the clutch, and play at his own pace is something few, if any, can contend with in today’s NBA.
His unbelievably efficient scoring is matched by elite basketball IQ and playmaking, not to mention his ferocious on-ball defense when needed.
Being crowned both MVP and NBA champion, in my view, officially declares Shai as the best basketball player in the world.
Sam Presti Becomes The King Of Executives
Presti is in his 18th year as the Thunder GM and has put some serious talent on the floor in that time, but this team feels special.
If they are able to win the first championship in Thunder history with a roster Presti has built almost entirely organically, with a bit of help from the Clippers.
All this while still being loaded with draft capital, it shows how he has managed to run rings around the rest of the NBA’s executives.
He has built a team that can win and compete now, while still holding a treasure chest of assets that can sustain success for the better part of a decade.
Presti, who won Executive of the Year, will no doubt be seen as the king of the castle after delivering tangible results and hardware for the franchise.
The Long Term Build Garners Validation
The Thunder took on the ultimate slow build but did it with conviction.
In a league where teams often try to turn around their fortunes in a single offseason in pursuit of instant success, the Thunder stuck to their guns.
The process was accelerated by Shai exploding into the megastar he is now, but the methodical approach of allowing a young core to grow together while adding pieces that fit the system at a good value has paid off.
Many teams are impatient, but the Thunder have now shown a blueprint for franchises stuck in NBA purgatory a clear path to the promised land.
What It Would Mean For The Pacers?
Tyreese Haliburton Becomes The Number One Pure Point Guard
ever since the Olympics and Tyrese Haliburton’s lack of minutes made him the subject of negative media attention, doubts have surrounded his abilities.
Especially as other young stars like Anthony Edwards commanded significant playing time under Steve Kerr.
After being written off by much of the NBA community, Haliburton has quietly put together an extremely solid season from a statistical standpoint.
However, it’s his impact on winning basketball games that could make him the best pure point guard in the NBA, especially if he leads a championship run as the head of the snake.
His ability to dictate the game from a systematic standpoint makes him an invaluable ball handler and would solidify his claim to the title of best pure point guard in the league.
Smaller Markets Continue To Thrive
The Indiana Pacers are now flying the flag for smaller markets and their ability to win NBA championships.
After the Celtics won the title last year, the Pacers have a chance to represent small-market teams and make them more desirable destinations for star players.
In a league often dominated by large markets attracting talent through trade requests and free agency based on location, being able to win a championship in Indiana would prove that they are a serious franchise.
With their current core, they’ve shown that they can both compete and win.
This makes them an exciting team for other stars to consider if they are looking to relocate.
Pascal Siakam Becomes A Hall Of Famer?
I’m not saying that a Pacers championship guarantees Siakam a spot in the Hall of Fame based solely on accolades.
However, Siakam’s career résumé would include: 3× All-Star, 2× All-NBA, 2019 Most Improved Player, 2× NBA Champion, with the possibility of an NBA Finals MVP trophy.
A player who is nowhere near retirement and appears to be playing some of his best basketball, while already boasting a career like this, surely deserves to start receiving Hall of Fame recognition from the NBA community.
For added context, if the Pacers do win, both of Siakam’s championships would stand out as two of the most unexpected and against-the-grain title runs in recent NBA history. Few predicted the Raptors in 2019, and even fewer expected this edition of the Pacers to be contenders by season’s end.