Pacers and Thunder offer masterclass in how to reach NBA Finals without spending frenzy

Come mid June, a new name will be engraved on the Larry O’Brien Trophy with neither the Indiana Pacers nor Oklahoma Thunder having won an NBA Championship previously.

The Thunder have impressed all season long and were the dominant force in the Western Conference with the Pacers delivering the surprise of the postseason as they swept aside the likes of the Bucks, Cavs and Knicks on their journey to the final.

Astute spenders

Far from spending massive sums of money on big salaries as witnessed by the likes of NBA powerhouses such as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder have earned their place in the NBA Finals by ranking 18th and 25th respectively on the list of franchises that pay the most to their players (for the current season).

The Pacers spent nearly $169 million on player salaries with the Thunder dishing out $167 million to reach the Finals which get underway on Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Although these are million-dollar figures, Indiana and Oklahoma City are far behind the biggest spenders on salary this season in a table topped by the Phoenix Suns, with an outlay of $220 million.

The Suns put $51.1 million in Kevin Durant’s account, paid $50.2 million to Bradley Beal’s and $49.2 million for Devin Booker’s services, but on the court they were a modest 36-46 and crashed out without making the playoffs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the second highest-spending franchise in terms of salary, with 204 million dollars. Frenchman Rudy Gobert, at $43 million, and Anthony Edwards, at $42 million, are the biggest spenders for coach Chris Finch’s team, which bowed out of the season in the West finals against the Thunder.

Shrewd management

Both the Pacers and Thunder excelled by brilliant management. OKC built a young and ambitious squad that posted the best regular season record of 68-14 and did not falter in the postseason.

OKC eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies (4-0), Denver Nuggets (4-3) and Wolves (4-1) en route to the Finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA regular season MVP, received a salary of $35 million this year, the highest on the roster.

Chet Holmgren earned just over $10 million and Jalen Williams was paid $4.7 million. Still, they formed one of the NBA’s best trios alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Pacers reached the Finals after eliminating the Milwaukee Bucks (4-1), Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1) and Knicks (4-2).

Their highest-paid players are Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, with salaries of $42 million each.

But behind them, Myles Turner, one of the big players on the road to the Finals, earned $19 million and Andrew Nembhard, one of the most in-form players in the playoffs, just $2 million.

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