MIES (Switzerland) - There is a nice symmetry to this NBA Finals between Oklahoma City and Indiana. Two great clubs are making their first appearances in the championship for a long time.
And both teams have leaders that took a while to fully blossom into the brilliant players they now are in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton.
Gilgeous-Alexander was selected in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, who then dealt him after one season to the Thunder where he's now emerged as MVP of the 2024-25 NBA season.
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Haliburton, taken in the first round of the draft two years later by Sacramento, was traded to the Pacers another two years later and has been All-NBA Third Team this season and last. He's also got a lifetime's worth of memories to cherish after a truly spectacular performance in the Eastern Conference post-season.
These players have continuously made their mark in FIBA ball, too.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who reached the Final of the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, made the All-Star Five of the 2023 World Cup and one year later guided Canada to a fifth place finish at the Olympics in Paris.
Haliburton made the All-Star Five at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, finished fourth at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila and won the gold medal at the 2024 Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament.
Their paths have crossed in FIBA ball, too, at the World Cup in Manila in the Third-Place Game - one of the wildest, most thrilling contests in the competition's long history.
Haliburton had 7 assists and 5 rebounds to go with 6 points in that battle with Canada. He was then a young rising star on a roster full of NBA talents.
Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points and 12 assists and Canada prevailed, 127-118, for their first podium finish at the World Cup. He was already a true alpha dog.
Both players have been at their best since playing for their countries, too.
Gilgeous-Alexander used the World Cup as a launchpad for his top NBA season and finished runners-up to Nikola Jokic in the MVP voting in 2023-24. And again after playing for Canada at the Olympics, Gilgeous-Alexander had an even better season. He was like a man possessed in 2024-25, leading the Thunder to the best record (68-14) in the NBA while averaging 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.
Oklahoma City swept Memphis (4-0), edged Nikola Jokic and Denver (4-3) and beat Minnesota (4-1) to reach the Finals.
The Pacers weren't too shabby in the regular season, going 50-32 to clinch the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference Play-offs. Haliburton then waved his magic wand.
He had a go-ahead drive just 1.3 seconds from the end for a 119-118 Game 5 win to clinch the first round play-off series against Milwaukee, and versus Cleveland, Haliburton nailed a step-back 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining for a 120-119 overtime victory that gave the Pacers a 2-0 series lead.
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Haliburton wreaked havoc in the 4-2 series win over the New York Knicks, too.
These two FIBA stars are shining as bright as ever as they enter the biggest moment of their NBA careers. Each will also eventually return to international basketball and light up that stage again as well.
FIBA