Trending Topics: NBA Finals Predictions in Early 2025

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Periodically, NBA.com writers will weigh in on the league’s top stories or trending topics.

Which teams will face each other in the 2025 NBA Finals?

Steve Aschburner

Celtics-Timberwolves. Boston appears poised to end the league’s current run of six different champions, where everyone gets a turn. Parity at the highest level has been fun, but each of the top five winners from 2019 (Toronto) to 2023 (Denver) wanted and tried to defend their titles. The Celtics will get it done – they’re talented, they’re deep, twin wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are hitting their prime, and the entire rotation defends strong.

If they don’t happen again, we will end up with a bigger headline: the franchise that has won the most NBA titles will be defeated by a team that has never reached the NBA Finals. Minnesota lost some of its distinction by trading Karl-Anthony Towns, but it appears more closed-minded and serious than it did last spring. Anthony Edwards and Chris Finch, Kia MVP and Coach of the Year candidates respectively, win Wolves games in June.

Brian Martin

Celtics-Thunder. The Celtics may not run away with the East like they did a season ago — with Kristaps Porzingis missing the start of the season and teams like New York (adding Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) and Philadelphia (adding Paul George) improving this offseason. But if Boston’s top-six team is together and healthy by the playoffs, they will be the toughest team to beat four times in seven games.

It’s hard to predict the West, but the Thunder have the most complete roster heading into the season and the resources to improve at the trade deadline. Yes, they are young and were eliminated in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals. But they can build on that experience and become the sixth different team to represent the West in the last six NBA Finals.

Shaun Powell

Knicks-Thunder. One of the smallest markets versus the biggest will feature the championship series and put two dynamic point guards on the floor – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson. Not only do these teams feature two Kia MVP candidates, but they are also deep, play solid defense, and are well coached. Oh, and who knows – the Knicks lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency, but they get here despite him, while the Thunder (who signed him) get here partly why from him.

John Schumann

Celtics-Thunder. This is a chalky pick, the two teams that were the top seeds last season and the favorites in the GM Poll. The biggest reason to pick against the Celtics in the East is to assume a championship hangover, but the threat of that core being broken up for financial reasons in 2025 should keep the champions motivated to repeat. The Thunder don’t have the experience that other teams have, but the roster is too talented and well-constructed (with the ability to improve through trades) to pick anyone else in the West.