The 2025 NBA Playoffs have been anything but predictable. But four teams stand on the brink of basketball immortality: the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The postseason has delivered something undeniably fresh in the form of hope, hunger, and the promise of history. In a league dominated for years by familiar names like the Warriors, Celtics, and Lakers, this iteration of the playoffs brings the possibility of crowning a new champion.
From the remaining four teams, OKC, Indiana, and Minnesota, have never lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy in their franchise's history. While the Knicks have tasted championship glory, it came 52 long years ago. With a 75% chance of crowning a first-time champion, this year’s playoffs are shaping up to be not just competitive, but transformative.
With this in mind, let's take a closer look at each of these franchises, their playoff pasts, and the meaning a title would bring to their cities.
New York Knicks: Chasing Destined Glory
The Knicks haven’t been this close to the mountaintop in decades, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Their last championship came in 1973, and since then, the franchise has endured endless rebuilds, front office drama, and fleeting postseason appearances.
But 2025 has been different. The Knicks came into the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the East and did a number on the Detroit Pistons in the first round, and sent the second-seeded Boston Celtics out of the playoffs in the second round.
Jalen Brunson has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top guards, while the supporting cast, featuring OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, has embraced the franchise's blue-collar identity.
The arrival of Karl-Anthony Towns this season also injected new life into the team's offense, and head coach Tom Thibodeau has the team locked in defensively. With impressive tenacity and grit, the Knicks have looked like the championship-caliber team they were destined to be.
But this isn’t just about basketball. A title for the Knicks would reverberate across generations of long-suffering fans in the basketball mecca. Madison Square Garden has long been the most iconic stage in the sport, but it hasn’t hosted a Finals game since 1999.
This postseason has provided an opportunity for the team to finally align prestige with performance and restore a proud franchise to its place at the top of the league.
Indiana Pacers: The Rising Giants In The East
The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most fascinating teams in this year's playoffs. Led by a star guard in Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers have surged through the playoffs with speed and precision.
After toppling the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second, Indiana’s fast-paced offense and clutch shot-making have made them one of the most entertaining sides to watch.
Indiana has dealt with misfortune in the playoffs for generations. The Pacers' deepest playoff run before this came in the early 2000s, most notably when they made the NBA Finals in 2000, only to lose to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant's Lakers.
In the 2010s, they boasted a strong core led by Paul George. However, the team had a tough time coming out of the East as they consistently ran into LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
Now, the narrative seems to be changing. Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner have become the faces of a rejuvenated franchise. This Pacers team is built on selfless ball movement and a relentless pace, attributes that have overwhelmed even elite defenses this postseason.
Winning their first-ever NBA title would validate years of smart front-office moves and signify the arrival of a new Eastern Conference powerhouse.
Oklahoma City Thunder: The Juggernaut In The West
No team has captured the imagination of fans quite like the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a 68-14 record to see themselves atop the Western Conference, the Thunder have transitioned from a rebuilding project to a legitimate title contender, faster than anyone could have expected.
The last time OKC reached the Finals was in 2012, when a young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden fell to James' Miami Heat. That group never returned, eventually splintering and heading down separate paths.
The current iteration, led by MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, co-star Jalen Williams, and a gifted big man in Chet Holmgren, looks primed to do what their predecessors set out to achieve.
The Thunder have combined elite defense, poised half-court execution, and a deep, versatile bench. Head coach Mark Daigneault has earned a lot of attention for his tactical adjustments and sense for player development.
Their playoff journey so far has seen them convincingly ice out the Memphis Grizzlies with a sweep, followed by a grueling seven-game series battle against the Denver Nuggets in the second round. Having enjoyed the full playoff experience, the Thunder are now battle-hardened and ready for the WCF.
A title would make OKC the smallest market ever to win an NBA championship. With youngsters forming their core, the Thunder could be one of the most competitive teams in the league for years to come.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards and the Dawn of a New Era
Minnesota might just have the most compelling storyline of all. After years of irrelevance and dysfunction, the Timberwolves have finally found their identity, and it’s wearing the No. 5. jersey.
Anthony Edwards has emerged as a bona fide superstar, combining elite scoring with unmatched confidence. With unparalleled intensity and grit, he has seen this Wolves team through to the Western Conference Finals.
Their playoff run has been arguably the most impressive of any team this year. After playing a revamped Los Angeles Lakers side, Edwards and the Wolves took them out in five games, against all odds. This was followed up with another dominant showing against the Golden State Warriors, who were also quietly dispatched in five games.
The Timberwolves’ legacy comes from their only other deep playoff run came in 2004 when Kevin Garnett led them to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Lakers. In this way, beating the Purple and Gold was also a destined event for the Wolves' star.
This time around, the roster is better balanced. Rudy Gobert’s defensive presence, Julius Randle and Naz Reid's offensive versatility, and Jaden McDaniels’ two-way impact have meshed seamlessly under head coach Chris Finch’s guidance.
Should they win it all, the Timberwolves would become the first team in franchise history to bring a championship to Minnesota, solidifying Edwards' status as the future face of the NBA and mending years of disappointment and heartbreak.
Championships have a massive impact not just on the players but also on the fans outside the arena. For fans, it’s validation after years of faith and loyalty. For cities, it’s a unifying triumph, something to be passed down through generations. And for franchises, it’s the difference between a footnote and a legacy.
Each team aiming to get into the Finals has something to prove. From the Knicks' 52-year drought to the Pacers omitting the disappointment in the NBA Finals. From the Thunder's impressive rebuild project to the Timberwolves' crowning of Anthony Edwards, this year’s Finals will deliver history.
But first, these teams must make it to the dance. With the Conference Finals in the way, only the most deserving shall have a chance to win it all in the NBA Finals.
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