The Oklahoma City Thunder etched their name in the history books by clinching the 2024-25 NBA Championship, marking the franchise’s first title. However, the achievement comes with a little bit of a cloud—an asterisk that begs a deeper look into the circumstances surrounding this victory.
Historically, titles that carry an asterisk typically do so for reasons that range from fortunate breaks to unfair advantages. The Thunder now find themselves in a controversial line of champions, a select group whose titles evoke debate about their legitimacy. Let’s examine that list a little closer, diving into the nuances of each situation and what they imply about competitive integrity.
2025 NBA Champions: Oklahoma City Thunder*
Asterisk Explanation: The story of this championship pivots on a dramatic moment in Game 7. With the game deadlocked at 16-16 in the first quarter, the Pacers’ star, Tyrese Haliburton, sustained an Achilles injury. This blow eliminated the Pacers’ most clutch player from the game and, without him, they fell short against the Thunder, losing by a margin of 12 points. Additionally, Aaron Gordon battled through injury, contributing significantly less than he typically would have, and Ja Morant was already sidelined by a previous injury sustained in Game 3.
2024 NBA Champions: Boston Celtics*
Asterisk Explanation: This title is underscored by a cascade of injuries that played into Boston’s favor. Star Jimmy Butler, who had been pivotal in halting the Celtics’ playoff ambitions the previous season, was unavailable due to a knee injury in the opening round. The Cavaliers were also handicapped; their All-Star center, Jarrett Allen, missed the entire series, and Donovan Mitchell missed half of it due to an ankle injury. In a world of attrition, the Celtics certainly feasted.
2023 NBA Champions: Denver Nuggets*
Asterisk Explanation: A rather simple narrative—facing a Play-In team in the finals can’t be overlooked. While victories are victories, the context plays a huge role in defining their significance.
2022 NBA Champions: Golden State Warriors*
Asterisk Explanation: This championship could be characterized as a “checkbook title.” The Warriors took advantage of a playoffs where several All-Stars were missing: Jamal Murray in the first round and Ja Morant after Game 3. Meanwhile, Jordan Poole turned into a makeshift superstar, elevating his play to unreasonably high levels for a short time.
2021 NBA Champions: Milwaukee Bucks*
Asterisk Explanation: The narrative here involves an alleged “magical recovery” from illness for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother, who provided unexpected support during the Finals. Compounding this, the Suns faced Chris Paul who was clearly less than 100%, having sustained significant injuries throughout the playoffs.
2020 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers*
Asterisk Explanation: This title raise questions around fairness, given circumstances like suspended play and the overall lack of competition during the bubble season.
2019 NBA Champions: Toronto Raptors*
Asterisk Explanation: Toronto’s run was directly affected by injuries to the Golden State Warriors stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson during the Finals. Plus, there was that memorable, albeit fortunate, bounce at the end of a pivotal Game 7 against the 76ers.
This theme of luck, skill, and circumstance continues through the years, with each title potentially deserving an asterisk for various reasons—whether it be historic injuries, refereeing controversies, or situational anomalies.
As we look through the lens of the Thunder’s championship run, it’s clear that the world of basketball is often as much about the right place at the right time as it is about raw talent and determination. For the Thunder and their fans, this championship might shine brightly, but that lingering asterisk in the record books ensures that discussions about its legitimacy will resonate for years to come. Before we can start planning for parades, a good look at the whole picture serves as a reminder of the complexities that lie behind every championship victory.
