In the lead-up to an NBA Finals featuring two small market teams, SB Nation Reacts data reveals a fascinating contradiction among basketball fans. On one hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder are being viewed as the team of destiny. On the other, the Indiana Pacers seem to have won over fans’ hearts.
Let’s start with the buzz. According to our polling, 53 percent of NBA fans think the Thunder have “more aura” than the Pacers. With rising stars like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC’s youth movement has captured the imagination of the league. Their on-court chemistry and charismatic core make them feel like the future—and apparently, the present. That aura has translated to belief: 81% of fans believe the Thunder will win the NBA Finals. If the Thunder win the 2025 NBA Finals, it will be their second time in franchise overall. The Thunder’s first NBA championship was in 1979 when they (then as the Seattle SuperSonics) defeated the Washington Wizards (then the Washington Bullets).
But belief isn’t the same as loyalty. Despite the Thunder being seen as the favorites, a surprising 63 percent of fans are actually cheering for the Pacers. Why? Indiana’s scrappy underdog story, Tyrese Haliburton’s emergence, and the team’s gritty postseason run have earned widespread admiration. Fans often rally behind the team that has fought uphill—and in that regard, the Pacers deliver.
This Finals also settles another long-standing narrative: the idea that small-market matchups kill interest. That myth has been debunked. A whopping 85 percent of fans say they don’t care that two small-market teams made the Finals. In fact, many seem energized by the idea that superteams and coastal elites aren’t the only ticket to June basketball.
So what do we make of this? The Thunder might have the edge in star power and championship odds, but the Pacers appear to have the emotional edge with fans.
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