Four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins made a strong prediction about one of the 2025 NBA finalists. The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are set to clash to define the new NBA champion, which would be the first in the Pacers' history and the first for the Thunder after the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City (the SuperSonics won the title in 1979).
Both teams have been pleasant surprises for many fans, with the Thunder confirming what they couldn't last season (the Mavericks eliminated them in six games in the semifinals after finishing the regular season as the No. 1 seed) and the Pacers taking the step they couldn't against the Boston Celtics in last year's Eastern Conference finals.
These teams threatened and beat the status quo, putting the rest of the league on alert that small-market franchises are eager to take over.
Andrew Nembhard
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) drives down the court beside Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22).
© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Cousins believes that one of these two has a bright future that could challenge what one of the most dominant teams in recent memory achieved. During Wednesday's installment of Fan Duel TV's "Run It Back," the former center predicted that the Thunder could be a better dynasty than the 2010s Golden State Warriors.
"I think we're looking at the beginning of a dynasty anyway," Cousins said. "Let's say they don't win it this year. You're gonna say they're not gonna be the favorite next season? It's absolutely the start of a dynasty. I think it's a dynasty that'll be even more powerful than what we saw with the Warriors.
"When the Warriors were in the heyday and they had everything rolling, they never had the assets that this Thunder team has. This Thunder team is probably built to be successful for the next 10-12 years, which is unheard of in the NBA."
The Warriors that won three NBA championships in five trips to the Finals in the mid and late 2010s had homegrown talent for the most part. They tweaked some parts of the roster, including adding Kevin Durant to the formula in 2016.
Thanks to Sam Presti collecting draft picks like they were candy, Oklahoma City has a team full of young talent to compete for many years to come. Paying all these players what they have rightfully earned will be a challenge and they will have to part ways with some pieces.
Even so, their general manager has put them in a solid position to compete, especially as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander enters his prime, which is still a couple of years away.