We live in a world where the NBA is far from fucked.
It’s functioning, sure — but not how anyone expected. The Lakers, Celtics, Bucks, Warriors?
Gone. The Clippers gave it one last try, and it still wasn’t enough. We’ve made it to the 2025 NBA Finals — Thunder vs. Pacers — and if you’re asking “how did this happen?” …well, you’re in the right place. Let’s go through every team that didn’t make it to the end, from the play-in to the conference finals, evaluate their seasons honestly, and then dive into what brought these two unexpected finalists here. Buckle up.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings ran out of gas. Simple as that. They spent all year bouncing between being a trendy League team and an inconsistent mess, and when the pressure was on? They folded in the Play-In. Losing to Dallas without putting up much of a fight tells you everything you need to know. Carter was solid, Sabonis was fine, but they feel like they peaked a year ago — and didn’t realize it. The beam’s been dim for a while.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs were just weird vibes following the baffling Luka trade. And when the vibes dried up, so did the team. They lost the Play-In to Memphis, a team that spent half the season in the ICU, and now they’re left with serious questions. Kyrie’s a wild card, the defense still sucks, and if they don’t find Cooper Flagg some real help soon when you draft him, this thing’s going to explode in real time.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls keep pretending like they’re rebuilding while refusing to do anything meaningful.
Lonzo Ball is….. here, Matas Buzelis is technically a person, and they somehow made the Play-In again.
And again, lost. No real development, no clear direction, just another wasted year. It’s impressive how little they’ve progressed considering how many different phases they’ve claimed to be in.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks always seem like they’re about to take off — and then they crash into a wall. They had moments this year: Trae got hot, Jalen Johnson flashed. But it ended the way it always does: with them losing to the Heat and going home. This team is stuck, and the clock is ticking on how long they can pretend otherwise.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies made the playoffs, sure, but they were never a threat. Getting swept by OKC was just the final punch after a season filled with injuries, suspensions, and chaos. This was supposed to be a bounce-back year for Ja and co., but it ended with more questions than answers. The core could be great, but right now, it’s all talk.
Los Angeles Clippers
They came into this season with the lowest expectations of the Kawhi era, and somehow still disappointed. They gave Denver a hell of a series, taking it to seven, but the cracks were clear. Kawhi wasn’t healthy (again), and Harden wasn’t enough to carry them (again). This was probably the final chapter of this era, and it ends the way it began: with unrealized potential.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers’ 2024 was loud and empty. They won some games, picked up Luka, LeBron was still somehow great at age 40, but it never mattered. Minnesota exposed them in five games, and once again, they’re left hoping the front office can work miracles. LeBron can only keep pushing this thing uphill for so long.
Time is running out — and they still don’t have a plan for the future.
Houston Rockets
Credit where it’s due: the Rockets made good on their goal of making the playoffs. They played hard, were annoying to deal with, and pushed Golden State to seven. But this team is still raw. Sengun looks like a future star, and they’ve got pieces, but they’re not ready yet. Fun season, but let’s not pretend they’re contenders. Not yet.
Miami Heat
Miami spent most of the year dealing with Jimmy Butler’s mid-life crisis disguised as trade demands.
By the time they locked in and made the playoffs, it was too late. Cleveland ran them off the court. Bam is still a beast, and Herro’s one of the best in the game, but as the season to be the end of the Butler era, it ended with a whimper.
Milwaukee Bucks
This team was supposed to win the East. Instead, they looked old, slow, and constantly out of sync.
Lillard’s prime is probably over with his injury, and the Pacers exposed them in five games. Giannis was banged up, and everything around him looked a step behind. This was supposed to be a redemption year — it turned into a reality check.
Detroit Pistons
Props to Detroit for making the playoffs at all — but let’s not overhype it. They lost in six to the Knicks. Cade finally stayed healthy and looked like something, but this team is still a few years away. If they play it right, they’re building toward something. If they don’t… it’ll be another rebuild of the rebuild.
Orlando Magic
Orlando was solid all year, and then Boston punked them in five games. There’s a lot to like here — Paolo’s a monster, Franz is smooth, and they’ve got one of the deepest young rosters in the league. But the lack of a true go-to guy showed up under the lights. The future is bright, but they need to grow up fast.
Denver Nuggets
Losing in seven to OKC isn’t shameful — but firing both Malone and Booth during the season? That’s chaos. Denver got outplayed by a younger, hungrier team, and instead of running it back, they hit the nuke button. Jokic is still the best player in the league, but he’s going to have to start over with a new coach and a GM. That’s a lot of volatility for a team that didn’t really fail.
Golden State Warriors
They started 12–something, and we all said “oh, they’re back.” Nah. Minnesota shut them down in five games, and Butler looked washed. This dynasty is over. Steph is still him, but the rest of the team?
Mid. And it’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Steve Kerr and where this thing’s going, because right now, it’s going nowhere.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Okay, I said they’d win it all. I meant it when I said it, and I was impressed. But they folded hard. Indiana took their lunch money in five games, and now we’re left wondering if that regular season was a mirage. I still like their future, but this year? Major disappointment. Garland and Mobley have to make a leap — or they’re stuck.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics were right where they wanted to be — until they weren’t. They lost to New York in six, and they did it looking uninspired and tired. Tatum got injured, and the ing cast vanished. This core might need a shakeup, because this was the year it was supposed to finally click. And once again, it didn’t.
Minnesota Timberwolves
A great season ends in disappointment. Minnesota looked like they had finally figured it out post-KAT, and Ant cemented himself as that guy. But OKC just had more in the tank. Losing in the WCF isn’t failure — but it’s going to sting, especially because they had a real shot. This could be the start of something… or the peak.
New York Knicks
Back-to-back 50-win seasons and a trip to the ECF? That’s a win. The Knicks have finally found consistency. Brunson is a superstar, Achiuwu actually found an offensive rhythm, and the fans are believing. But Indiana was just better, and the roster is clearly one piece short. Still, this was a statement season — they’re for real.
The Finals
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder earned this. This was no fluke run.
They blitzed Memphis, took out Denver in seven, and made Minnesota look slow. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has gone from All-Star to supernova, and Chet Holmgren looks like the best rookie big since Embiid. This team plays fast, smart, and with purpose. They’ve been building for this for years, and it all came together at the perfect time.
What could go wrong? Inexperience. This team is young. In a Finals series, things slow down, and the bright lights can get to you. If Shai or Chet hits a wall, or the role players go cold, it could get messy fast. But they’ve shown poise every step of the way. They look like a team that’s not just here — they’re here to stay.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers made the Finals. Let that sink in. This team wasn’t even supposed to be a top-five seed, and they just went through the Bucks, Cavs, and Knicks like it was nothing. Tyrese Haliburton is him, Pascal Siakam fits like a glove, and Bradley has this team playing hard, connected basketball. They don’t beat themselves.
What could go wrong? Defense, and just being outgunned. They’ve survived on offensive explosions and smart play, but OKC’s defense is legit. If the Pacers can’t slow the game down or get stops when it matters, they’re toast. The upside is obvious — they’re playing free and confident. The downside? They run out of gas.
Finals Prediction
I did say OKC in 4, but I didn’t get this blog out in time and the Pacers stole Game 1. Good for them.
Doesn’t change the outcome. OKC is too deep, too athletic, and too locked in. Haliburton will get his, but Shai is on another planet right now. This is where the curse finally breaks. The Thunder are winning this thing — and they might not stop here.
PREDICTION: Thunder in 5
This was one of the weirdest, most fun, most chaotic NBA seasons in a long time. And somehow, we still got a Finals that matters. Two curses. One ring. Let’s see who wants it more.
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