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OKLAHOMA CITY— Welcome to the Point Guard Party, even if the invitations hint at the 2025 NBA Finals. A lot can unfold in the coming weeks to spice up this series, but until the game begins between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, the center of attention will be your hosts:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton.
Before the game starts, this series is already noteworthy for two main reasons.
First: It’s the closest matchup between Eastern and Western Conference champions in the era of 30 teams — not quite an Uber ride, but definitely nearby.
Second and more significantly: Both teams owe their Finals appearance to their outstanding point guards.
Since the days when Magic Johnson planted a kiss on Isiah Thomas, the role of the point guard has taken on a monumental significance in the Finals. Prior to the iconic clashes between Magic and Isiah in 1988 and ’89, it was rare for the starting point guard to be the standout, celebrated player on both teams.
Historically, the game was dominated by towering athletes: Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, among others. Usually, teams with elite 7-footers maintained a tight grip on championship contention.
As the game evolved and the importance of size diminished, powerful guards and small forwards took center stage: Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Occasionally, you could find a point guard carrying a Finals team, but never both teams simultaneously in such a compelling manner.
The Pacers and Thunder are set to offer something unique. The game will flow through Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton, who will significantly influence how the series unfolds. And they are undoubtedly the right players for this moment.
Gilgeous-Alexander is nearing the conclusion of a remarkable season. Behind him lies a trail of accolades and applause, leading toward the ultimate goal — the championship trophy, a first for both him and the Thunder. It would be a triumphant conclusion to a year that already boasts the 2025 Kia NBA MVP, a scoring title, and All-NBA First Team selections. Falling short of the title would feel like a fly landing in his piña colada.
Haliburton’s season has been quite unconventional. His journey began last summer when he earned a spot on Team USA — a prestigious honor that brought him an Olympic gold medal — but his playing time was limited. He started the NBA season slowly before igniting his performance, ultimately earning All-NBA Third Team recognition and propelling the Pacers into the Finals with several clutch game-winning or extending shots in the playoffs.
Both the Thunder and Pacers achieved prominence only after acquiring their respective point guards through trades that revolutionized their franchises. This approach contradicted the conventional team-building philosophy, where point guards often serve as supporting players to a primary superstar. Interestingly, one individual made these transformative acquisitions feasible: Paul George.
The OKC franchise underwent a significant transformation when they broke down their 2019 playoff roster. When the Clippers sought George — who had finished third in MVP voting that season — the Thunder couldn’t resist the enticing offer of five first-round picks, two swaps, and a promising player fresh off his rookie year: Gilgeous-Alexander.
The rebuilding Thunder entrusted the ball to Gilgeous-Alexander, allowing him to flourish and even brought in Chris Paul for a season of guidance, after which Gilgeous-Alexander took the reins and excelled.
Three years later, De’Aaron Fox made waves in Sacramento, stirring the pot all the way across the country. Faced with the newfound dilemma of having two talented young point guards, the Kings sought more size and proposed a trade to the Pacers. The deal involved Haliburton, midway through his second season with the Kings, being traded for then-Pacers forward/center Domantas Sabonis (who had also been acquired through the George trade in 2017).
It’s uncommon for teams to swap big for small, but the Pacers made a wise decision to accept the challenge. General Manager Kevin Pritchard took a chance, and Coach Rick Carlisle was fully committed.
“This franchise saw something in me that others didn’t,” Haliburton stated.
Carlisle praised Haliburton as “an elite young point guard who positively impacts the game in numerous ways … he has immense potential for further growth. Discovering a franchise-caliber point guard at just 21 years old is exceptionally rare.”
Despite both being point guards, Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton possess distinct playing styles. It’s this contrast that makes them unique while concurrently shaping their journeys.
Haliburton is a nod to the past, thriving in a modern game that prioritizes scoring point guards. He embodies more of John Stockton than Damian Lillard. That’s the charm: Haliburton stands firm in his style, even when the trends lean another way.
He led the league in assists last season (averaging 10.9 per game in 2023-24) and finished third this season (9.2 apg). Since joining the Pacers, he has averaged 10.1 assists and currently leads the playoffs with 9.8 assists per game.
Moreover, Haliburton is not a reckless player despite being in charge of the offense. He averaged under two turnovers per game this season and recorded a historic triple-double in just 38 minutes during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals with no turnovers.
Tyrese Haliburton consistently pushes the pace, delivering a historic postseason performance that has put the Pacers ahead 3-1 against the Knicks.
Haliburton has been the driving force behind the Pacers’ efficient offense over the last two seasons. They led the league in scoring with an average of 123.3 points in 2023-24 and ranked third in field goal percentage this season while committing the fourth-fewest turnovers.
In high-stakes moments, Haliburton becomes the primary scoring option for the Pacers, fully authorized to shoot.
“What makes him exceptional is his confidence,” noted Thunder forward Jalen Williams. “He plays through all the ‘overrated’ criticism, and that’s commendable … it makes him a very formidable player.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quickly established himself as a top player, earning Kia MVP honors after an electrifying regular season in 2024-25.
Though informal, it’s an undeniable label: Gilgeous-Alexander stands out as the league’s most inventive scorer. Much like Haliburton, he has an old-school flair, but with a modern twist, excelling at mid-range shooting in an era dominated by 3-point specialists.
He thrives from 15-18 feet, getting to his preferred spots with confident dribbles while leveraging his forearm to create space from defenders or rising for a smooth fallaway jumper.
His shooting fluidity is mesmerizing. Additionally, Gilgeous-Alexander has perfected the art of drawing fouls (though this can draw some criticism) and, while not a high-volume 3-point shooter, he knows how to make impactful shots when necessary.
He has averaged over 30.1 points per game for the past three seasons (a league-leading 34.2 ppg in 2024-25) and, at 26 years old, is in the prime of his career. His passing has also improved each year, culminating in a career-best 6.4 assists per game this season.
It seems that the 2025 NBA Finals could evoke a similar point guard hype as the legendary matchups of Isiah vs. Magic. Close, but not quite. Those two icons commanded the spotlight.
Magic and the Lakers were in the process of wrapping up Pat Riley’s anticipated three-peat — a feat he notably trademarked — and continued to exude that iconic 1980s aura that set them (along with Bird’s Celtics and Julius Erving’s Sixers) apart from the rest of the league.
Magic was locked into a playmaking role, showcased by his average of 13 assists per game, with James Worthy emerging as the key beneficiary, delivering a 36-point triple-double in Game 7 that earned him Finals MVP honors.
Meanwhile, Isiah was making his first of three consecutive Finals appearances after overcoming the Celtics’ challenges and proving himself. He sought to break the “little man” stereotype, as no player standing 6-foot-1 had previously been the leading contributor for a championship team.
Isiah had his career-defining moment in Game 6, limping through the third quarter on a sprained ankle while scoring an NBA-record 25 points during that period. However, Magic and the Lakers ultimately won that game, going on to claim the title in Game 7.
In Game 6 of the 1988 Finals, Isiah Thomas, struggling on a sprained ankle, set an NBA record by scoring 25 points in the third quarter.
The rematch was set to be a ratings blockbuster … until just days before the game. Magic had full control of a Lakers team that appeared to show their age, particularly Abdul-Jabbar, who was running low at 42 years old, finishing his career tour. Magic earned his second of three MVP awards that season, leading the team throughout.
Isiah was determined to seek revenge following his injury-plagued series last summer. In the playoffs, he outmaneuvered a Bird-less Celtics team, eliminated the emerging Jordan threat, and faced off against the player who previously overshadowed him in the Finals.
However, Riley subjected the Lakers to a rigorous pre-Finals training regimen, during which Byron Scott suffered a hamstring injury, followed by Magic sustaining a similar injury in Game 2. Both players were sidelined. Nevertheless, Isiah likely would have prevailed anyway — the Pistons were the more agile and superior team — and they completed a sweep.
After that, various champions showcased adept point guards (like Ron Harper for the Bulls and Derek Fisher for the Lakers), but none possessed the star qualities. Chauncey Billups directed a Pistons squad that emphasized teamwork over individual talent in 2004, while Tony Parker played a critical role for the Spurs during much of their title run (and won Finals MVP in 2007) … even though they also had a certain player named Tim Duncan.
During the Warriors vs. Cavaliers matchups a decade ago, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving dazzled fans with their showdowns — with Irving hitting the dramatic, championship-winning shot for Cleveland in 2016. Yet, the Cavaliers had James alongside them.
Thus, the presence of Gilgeous-Alexander and Haliburton, as point guards and the definitive leaders of their squads, makes for a truly distinctive championship series. One doesn’t need to drop 30 points to aid his team’s success. The other often finds the victory when he does.
While the outcome of the 2025 NBA Finals will ultimately hinge on the superior team in a best-of-seven contest, it will significantly be shaped by the performances of Gilgeous-Alexander, Haliburton, or possibly both.
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Shaun Powell has been a dedicated NBA journalist for over 25 years. You can reach him via email here, explore his extensive archive here, and follow him on X.
The opinions expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
