Preseason Odds: A Tale of Two Underdogs

The path to the Finals was improbable from the jump:

Thunder : +300 to win the West (25% implied probability), hampered by skepticism about their youth (average age: 24.7).

Pacers : +2500 to win the East — seventh shortest odds behind Boston, Milwaukee, Philly, Miami, and Atlanta.

How We Got Here: Paul George

Both franchises got here through bold trades, and oddly enough, both centered around Paul George.

In 2019, OKC traded George to the Clippers, receiving a treasure chest of picks and a wiry 21-year-old named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Since then, SGA has blossomed into the 2025 NBA MVP and scoring champion, carrying the Thunder to their first Finals since 2012.

In 2022, Indiana sent Domantas Sabonis, acquired in the original George trade

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