The 2025 NBA Finals will feature a historic showdown as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers face off in a matchup that breaks the mold of modern NBA championship trends. For the first time in the luxury tax era (2003-present), two teams that remained under the luxury tax threshold will compete for the NBA title, offering a fresh blueprint for roster construction and financial management in the league.
Thunder and Pacers Reach NBA Finals Without Paying Luxury Tax
Throughout the 2024-25 NBA season, 11 teams exceeded the NBA’s luxury tax threshold of $170.8 million, with eight of those big-spending franchises reaching the playoffs. Teams like the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Miami Heat continued their high-spending ways. Yet, as the postseason progressed, it was the fiscally disciplined Thunder and Pacers who outlasted their wealthier counterparts.
- Oklahoma City Thunder payroll: $165.6 million (25th in NBA)
- Indiana Pacers payroll: $168.2 million (18th in NBA)
Both teams successfully built championship-caliber rosters without exceeding the luxury tax, a rare feat in today’s financial landscape where spending often correlates with playoff success.
How the Thunder and Pacers Built Their NBA Finals Rosters
Both Oklahoma City and Indiana have taken a balanced approach to roster construction, combining star power with salary cap efficiency. Their payrolls are anchored by max contracts for their franchise cornerstones while surrounding them with well-paid veterans and rising stars on affordable rookie contracts.
Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-25 Starting Five Salaries:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: $35.9 million
- Isaiah Hartenstein: $30 million
- Luguentz Dort: $16.5 million
- Chet Holmgren: $10.9 million
- Jalen Williams: $4.8 million
Indiana Pacers 2024-25 Starting Five Salaries:
- Tyrese Haliburton: $42.2 million
- Pascal Siakam: $42.2 million
- Myles Turner: $19.9 million
- Aaron Nesmith: $11 million
- Andrew Nembhard: $2 million
This efficient cap management has allowed both teams to remain competitive while maintaining long-term financial flexibility.
A Rare NBA Finals Without Luxury Tax Payments
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the winner of the 2025 NBA Finals will join an exclusive list of non-taxpayer champions during the luxury tax era. Only five other teams have captured the NBA championship without exceeding the tax:
- 2006 Miami Heat
- 2014 San Antonio Spurs
- 2015 Golden State Warriors
- 2017 Golden State Warriors
- 2020 Los Angeles Lakers
With the 2025 NBA Finals featuring two non-taxpayer teams, Oklahoma City and Indiana are proving that championship success doesn’t always require massive payrolls or luxury tax penalties.
NBA Salary Cap Strategy Redefined
As the NBA’s financial landscape grows increasingly complex with the salary cap, luxury tax, and new collective bargaining rules, the 2025 Finals serve as a case study for how smart roster building, player development, and disciplined spending can still lead to the sport’s biggest stage. The Thunder and Pacers are redefining what it means to be a championship contender in the modern NBA.
