When was the last time the Oklahoma City Thunder made the NBA Finals?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have sealed their spot in the 2025 NBA Finals with a 4-1 series victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

But when was the last time OKC made the NBA Finals?

It was in the lockout-shortened 2011/12 season, when the team — led by three future NBA MVPs in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden — got past the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs before losing to the Miami Heat in five games in the Finals.

Oklahoma City Thunder 2024/25 NBA Playoffs results

The Thunder ran into the all-time great trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in that 2012 Finals series. James averaged 28.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in that series while shooting 47.2 percent from the field while winning his first Finals MVP Award.

For OKC, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the way with 30.6 and 27.0 points per game, respectively, and both averaged over 42.0 minutes played. Harden added 12.4 points per game off the bench, but defensively, the Thunder couldn't cope with Miami's efficiency and dribble-drive offense led by James.

Fast-forward 13 years later, and the Thunder team set to appear in the 2025 Finals looks much different.

The 2012 team had three offensive superstars surrounded by grizzled role players such as Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, and Nick Collison. The 2025 team has one superstar — 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — and is surrounded by well-rounded role players including 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, 2022 No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren, two-time All-Defensive honoree Alex Caruso, and 2024/25 First-Team All-Defensive honoree Lu Dort.

Rusty Gorelick

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