The Oklahoma City Thunder were crowned NBA Champions on Sunday night, outlasting the Indiana Pacers in seven games to clinch their first championship. It was only four short years ago that the Phoenix Suns were in the same position - and despite taking a commanding 2-0 lead against the Milwaukee Bucks - we all know how that seasson ended.
Since then the franchise has slipped further away from contention, and trading so much away to acquire Kevin Durant was part of the reason why. Durant is now a Houston Rocket, although the shortcomings of the team while he was in The Valley cannot be blamed on him. He held up his end of the bargain, and was everything offensively the Suns needed him to be.
Suns lack patience that Thunder had to build a winning roster.
The Thunder obviously have an advantage over the Suns - and the rest of the league really - in that Sam Presti is their General Manager. But it is the very thing that Presti has always preached - despite getting close to the mountain top on several occasions - that doesn't cost anything and is easy to copy if you're willing to put in the time. Sadly, patience is a component Suns' owner Mat Ishbia lacks.
Had he at least waited to see what he had when he bought the team, perhaps the Suns wouldn't find themselves in the tough spot that they do now. Instead he overpaid immediately for Durant, and in his first offseason at the helm oversaw the trades that sent Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul away, while bringing Bradley Beal to Phoenix.
Had he at least waited to see what he had when he bought the team, perhaps the Suns wouldn't find themselves in the tough spot that they do now. Instead he overpaid immediately for Durant, and in his first offseason at the helm oversaw the trades that sent Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul away, while bringing Bradley Beal to Phoenix.
Meanwhile…..
— E.K. Johnson (@CoalitionHoops) June 23, 2025
The Oklahoma City Thunder get a championship trophy, while the Los Angeles Clippers get new toilets.
May be the worst trade in modern NBA history. pic.twitter.com/m6ULRbsS4Y
One of the more remarkable stats from the Thunder's championship win is the fact they won only 24 games three seasons ago. The year the Suns went to the finals? They were a horrible 22-50. But what they did do - as Presti has done several times over while in charge - is go back to the very start, get rid of highly paid stars who have passed their peak such as Russell Westbrook, and begin again.
That strategy netted them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and from their they did a great job of nailing their draft picks. Jalen Williams was drafted and became the Pippen to Shai's Jordan in the finals, while Chet Holmgren is among the best third options in the league and is only going to get better on the offensive end.
That strategy netted them Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and from their they did a great job of nailing their draft picks. Jalen Williams was drafted and became the Pippen to Shai's Jordan in the finals, while Chet Holmgren is among the best third options in the league and is only going to get better on the offensive end.