NBA Finals Game 1: Pacers at Thunder, 8:30 p.m., Thursday; TV: ABC

OKLAHOMA CITY – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton didn’t have typical paths in becoming icons of their respective franchises.

SGA was the No. 11 pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Haliburton was picked 12th in 2020.

SGA played his rookie season with the Clippers before getting flipped to the Thunder in the Paul George trade — the second Paul George trade that spawned these NBA Finals . Haliburton played parts of two seasons for the Kings before he was traded to the Pacers for Domantas Sabonis.

SGA is the league’s MVP . Haliburton has made back-to-back All-NBA teams .

The two star guards are the engines behind the Thunder and Pacers, two teams that meet at 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Oklahoma City in Game

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