Later this week, we’ll finally dig into one of the more intriguing (and surprising?) NBA Finals matchups in recent memory.
In one corner, you have reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historically dominant Oklahoma City Thunder, who have only really been pushed this postseason by Nikola Jokić’s Denver Nuggets. These great Thunder will enter the 2025 Finals with over a week’s rest. Gulp. In the other corner, you have the scrappy Indiana Pacers, who few saw making a Finals run before they ripped out the New York Knicks’ heart. Factor in the small-market aspect between Oklahoma City and Indianapolis, and I’m not really confident about what to expect in this series over the next few weeks.
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Nonetheless, while the Pacers have a chance to win it all after slaying multiple giants in the Eastern Conference, the Thunder are overwhelming favorites for a good reason. It’ll probably take a Herculean effort from Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Co. to stave off Gilgeous-Alexander and his friends to win the first title in Indiana’s franchise history.
That’s where this year’s NBA Finals MVP conversation comes in.
Both the Thunder and Pacers are remarkably deep, with everyone on both rosters understanding and playing to their respective roles to a tee. While there are a couple of obvious choices at the top of this Finals MVP race, the make-up of both of these teams throws a wrench in firmly predicting other possible options.
Below is my best attempt at a 2025 NBA Finals MVP ranking with a rationale that considers each individual player’s skillsets and their responsibilities to their respective teams. Please note that I’m sticking with the idea that the Finals MVP can only come from the winning team. It’s a personal sports preference, but we don’t crown second place in any fashion.
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All odds courtesy of DraftKings.
6. C Myles Turner (+20000)
May 31, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Ernie Johnson interviews Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) after game six of the eastern conference finals against the New York Knicks for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
I’d be floored if Turner was Finals MVP in a Pacers win. Full stop. But that’s not a knock on the 10-year veteran. Turner is one of the NBA’s better stretch centers with a good 3-point shot on solid volume. He’s a decent rim protector, too. Of course, we’re talking about a role player here, but Turner is undoubtedly high-level. His persistence in Indiana has paid off.
5. C/PF Chet Holmgren
May 26, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game four of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Like Turner, I’d be shocked if Holmgren left these Finals with MVP honors. The second-year big man is a talented young player, but he still has a ways to go (and mature) before he’s the veritable best player on the NBA’s championship stage. With that said, Holmgren already has plenty of merits. He’s an elite shot-blocker, a great rim-runner, and he also shoots well from the 3-point line at a decent clip.
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And who knows? Maybe Holmgren goes off in a few key Thunder wins and puts himself in this conversation.
4. SF Jalen Williams
May 26, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game four of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Williams is the first truly reasonable bet on this list for this year’s Finals MVP.
After all, the versatile two-way forward did qualify for an All-NBA team this year. As a great defender and proficient scorer, Williams is one of the few guys in this series who could break a game open on both ends of the court. Depending on who you talk to, he is the third or fourth-best player in these Finals, at worst. However, Williams remains a younger player who has struggled to consistently deliver on the offensive end during this postseason. Ultimately, that might be what keeps him from being a legit Finals MVP candidate.
3. PF Pascal Siakam
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) reacts after shooting a layup during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
As another All-NBA-caliber player, Siakam has been a revelation for the Pacers during these playoffs.
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The veteran forward and 2019 NBA champion had three games of at least 30 points during the Eastern Conference Finals en route to series MVP honors. On the whole in these playoffs, he’s averaging roughly 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists with a true shooting percentage of 60.8. Those are exemplary numbers. Those are perfect contributions from a Finals team’s No. 2 option. Siakam’s path to Finals MVP is continuing this tear, while acting as an X-factor that Oklahoma City’s defense has no answer for. It can happen.
2. PG Tyrese Haliburton
May 17, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) smiles during game six of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
If the Pacers go on to win the title, the clear choice for Finals MVP is Haliburton.
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Haliburton is the straw that stirs Indiana’s drink. He is the floor general who makes the Pacers’ offense hum. He’s the leader and true talisman that the Pacers organization has been missing since the halcyon days of Reggie Miller. Haliburton will face a daunting individual matchup during this series, as the Thunder have more great perimeter defenders to throw at him than anyone else in the NBA. But if he can overcome this hurdle in a moment of glory for Indiana, it’s hard to see another Pacers player winning Finals MVP.
1. G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
May 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game two of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
In the event of a Thunder victory, the reigning MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander will likely be the catalyst behind Oklahoma City’s first-ever championship. He’s just too good and too crafty to say otherwise.
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As an elite defensive team that thrives on live-ball turnovers, the Thunder aren’t necessarily slouches in their half-court offense per se, but they do look a lot more mortal if Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t have it going. He is their coherent offensive engine in every fathomable way. In other words, Gilgeous-Alexander is way too important to the Thunder’s general operation to assert anyone else should be the frontrunner for 2025 Finals MVP.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NBA Finals MVP 2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, 4 others lead race