The Oklahoma City Thunder were cruising toward their first NBA title since moving to OKC. Young, confident, and stacked with talent, they looked like a team ready to claim their first title. But just when the champagne seemed close, the Indiana Pacers punched back hard.
Now, after a blowout 108-91 loss in Game 6, the Thunder are suddenly facing a Game 7 with everything on the line. And now, Golden State Warriors’ veteran forward Draymond Green has thrown cold water on the hype, warning that if the Thunder don’t win now, their window might slam shut for good.
Draymond Green Sends a Clear Now or Never Message for Thunder
Green has never been one to sugarcoat his thoughts, especially regarding championship expectations. Speaking before Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Green delivered a strong warning about what’s at stake for the Thunder after their meltdown in Game 6.
“They are supposed to win,” Green said bluntly on “The Draymond Green Show.” “The pressure is all on them… I want to see what OKC going to do, because I’ll tell you this BD: If OKC don’t win this championship, they may never win a championship.”
He wasn’t done. When former NBA guard Baron Davis asked whether he believed the Thunder could still get it done in the next three years if they lost this series, Green didn’t hesitate.
“Not at all,” he said. “Here’s why. I think they get in a tough position if they don’t win a championship. When you get the opportunity to win a championship, if you win it, you give yourself the opportunity to win more. But if you lose it, now you start tweaking stuff, and those tweaks could put you further away from where you were.”
“If OKC doesn’t win this year… they may NEVER win a championship.”@Money23Green explains why the Thunder are in do-or-die mode — and what happens if they don’t finish the job.
🔥 Rookie contracts expiring
💰 Cap pressure coming
🧠 Chemistry on the line#OKC #NBAPlayoffs… pic.twitter.com/jHly8FR0UA— The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis (@DraymondShow) June 20, 2025
Green’s comments cut deep because they come from the experience of six NBA finals and four NBA championships. He’s lived through dynasties, collapses, and the temptations of over-adjusting. And right now, OKC feels dangerously close to that edge.
The Thunder entered these playoffs looking like a team of destiny. Their 68–14 regular-season record was the best in the league. They broke a long-standing NBA record with 54 double-digit wins. They stormed through the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round with a 4-0 sweep.
Their MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has been nothing short of brilliant, leading the Finals in scoring with 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 6 games.
They even held a 3–2 lead over Indiana after Jalen Williams’s breakout 40-point performance in Game 5. Everything was pointing toward the Thunder lifting the trophy, but then came Game 6.
Game 6 Collapse Fuels Doubt Over Thunder’s Title Dreams
If OKC was poised for a coronation, the Pacers spoiled it in brutal fashion. In Game 6, the Pacers ripped through the Thunder with a complete performance, and the cracks in OKC’s confidence began to show.
Oklahoma City shot just 8-for-30 from beyond the arc, while the Pacers notched 15-for-42. That’s a 21-point swing from three-point land alone. The Thunder also coughed up 21 turnovers, which led to 19 easy points for the Pacers. By contrast, the Pacers had just 11 giveaways.
Even with the Thunder dominating the paint 40–30, those numbers were too much to overcome and prevent the 108-91 defeat. For the Thunder, it was a serious punch, with a championship on the line.
And that’s where Green’s message hits hardest. Game 7 is everything. A win cements OKC’s arrival as the NBA’s next great power, but a loss could mark the start of years of searching and second-guessing. For a team with sky-high expectations, Green’s words are a clear warning.
The NBA Finals heads into Game 7 for the 20th time. The action begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 22, at Paycom Center, Oklahoma City.
