The 2007 Trade That Set the Stage for the 2025 NBA Finals: A Tale of Four Players and Their Connection to the Sonics Sign-and-Trade of Rashard Lewis
In the thrilling final moments of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, four players played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game. Indiana Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard, along with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forward Jalen Williams, all played pivotal parts in the game's final sequence.
After Jalen Williams missed a 3-pointer that would have given the Thunder a 9-point lead with just 2 minutes and 16 seconds remaining, Nembhard hit a three-pointer of his own over Gilgeous-Alexander on the following possession. In the game's decisive sequence, while Oklahoma City was clinging to a 1-point lead, Gilgeous-Alexander missed a pull-up jumper with just 11 seconds to go. The Pacers scooped up the rebound and got the ball to Haliburton, who hit the game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.
All four players - Haliburton, Nembhard, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Williams - have been key cogs in their teams' success over the last couple of seasons. And all four can be traced back to a transaction from the summer of 2007, when a 30-year-old Sam Presti, general manager of the then-Seattle SuperSonics, made a trade that helped set the stage for the 2025 Finals.
The Sonics' sign-and-trade of forward Rashard Lewis helped build not one, but both of this year's NBA Finals participants. Lewis was traded to the Miami Heat in exchange for Ray Allen and other players, which helped pave the way for the eventual rise of both the Pacers and Thunder.
Haliburton and Nembhard were both drafted by the Pacers in the 2019 NBA Draft, while Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams were both drafted by the Thunder in the 2018 NBA Draft. All four players have since become key contributors to their respective teams and have helped them reach the Finals this year.
The story of these four players and their connection to the 2007 trade is a testament to the power of trades in shaping the future of the NBA. It's also a reminder of how one decision can have far-reaching consequences and set the stage for future success.
As we look back at this historic moment in sports, it's clear that the impact of trades cannot be underestimated. The future of the NBA is in the hands of these talented players who were all touched by a single transaction that took place over a decade ago.
