NBA Finals 2025 Indiana Pacers vs. OKC Thunder: Can Small TV Market Teams Redefine the Ultimate Showdown?

Garima Ranawat

Last updated: June 2, 2025

3 min read

The NBA Finals begin on Thursday, May 5.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Indiana Pacers will lock horns with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals 2025. The Pacers earned their final spot by taking down the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. On the other hand, the Thunder became the first finalists of the season when they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. This is going to be an interesting seven-game series, as it is going to be for the first time in over 50 years that two small market teams will fight for the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Generally, most NBA Finals have featured big-market teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the Golden State Warriors. These teams enjoy huge fans as well as media following. However, it is going to be the Thunder and the Pacers taking the center stage this season. Notably, the Thunder are 25th among the 27 US TV markets in the NBA, while the Pacers are 21st.

THE 2025 NBA FINALS ARE SET pic.twitter.com/mB8wx9gtmf
— Real Sports (@realapp_) June 1, 2025

If we talk about their size, the TV Market size of Oklahoma City is 755K while that of Indianapolis is 1.1 million. While it is the ultimate celebration of the sport, where two small teams have defied all odds, delivered the best performance in their respective conferences, and are now just four wins away from being labeled as the NBA Champions 2025. But does it affect NBA business? Let’s find out.

How Does OKC Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Finals 2025 Affect NBA Business and TV Viewership?

The fact that the NBA has been facing constant drop in the TV ratings as well as the viewership. Last year, the league recorded an average of 11.3 million viewers in the United States, marking a decline from 2023’s record of over 11.6 million viewers. With big teams and famous players, such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, the NBA tends to attract more viewers, which means more business.

This year, both teams don’t have any big names, and players including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam haven’t risen to those prominence levels. However, backed up by their campaigns in the 2024-25 season as well as staggering prowess in the playoffs, the star who is going to lead his side to the ultimate title is going to be the next household name.

In addition, the fact that these teams have waited for decades for their NBA Finals appearance, makes the upcoming series more interesting. While the Thunder have emerged as the best team in the season, the Pacers will play their first Finals game in 25 years. While the lack of a superstar in both the teams might result in lesser ticket sales, a quality series is guaranteed, attracting true sports lovers from not only across the United States but from other parts of the world as well.

Indiana Pacers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.