On the same day that Kevin Durant changed teams yet again, the concept of NBA championship-contenders needing a “Big Three” died in Game 7 of the Finals.

The Thunder — who once had a young Big Three of Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook — completed their decade-long rebuild from losing three homegrown future Hall of Famers by <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/22/sports/thunder-pull-away-from-pacers-to-win-nba-championship/">winning their first NBA title in Oklahoma City</a>, with a 103-91 victory in a winner-take-all game that was marred by Tyrese Haliburton’s <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/22/sports/tyrese-haliburton-crumbles-to-court-in-pacers-injury-nightmare-early-in-game-7-of-nba-finals/">devastating injury</a>.

The new champions paired NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with Jalen Williams (Second-Team All-NBA) and featured five others who averaged double-figure points during the regular season.

No one will confuse either the Thunder or the Pacers for the All-Star trios that LeBron James and Kevin Durant created over the last 15 years.{ai:summary}<p>The Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat 103-91 in Game 7 of the Finals. This victory marks the end of the era where teams relied on a "Big Three," as the Thunder’s success came from a well-rounded roster including NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.</p><p>The game was overshadowed by Tyrese Haliburton’s serious injury, but the Thunder's decade-long rebuild after losing stars like Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook culminated in this historic win. #sports</p>

How these NBA Finals may have put the NBA superteam era to rest

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