NBA Finals begins Thursday when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Indiana Pacers in Game 1. The Thunder are making their first finals appearance since 2012 -- when Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden were on the roster.

This is similar to: The 2016 Cavs, 2019 Raptors & 2023 Nuggets. Those three teams became first-time champions in the past nine seasons, including two with ties to the current Pacers. The 2019 Raptors featured Pascal Siakam, while the 2023 Nuggets included Thomas Bryant. The rest of the Indiana roster has yet to taste championship glory.

Jalen Williams Gets Honest About Thunder Before NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, opponents in the NBA Finals, have a lot in common. On the court, both teams are deep, led by young guards, and have two of the best coaches in the NBA.