Welcome to Trendlines, where we take a closer look at what’s trending up and what’s trending down in the world of sports. This week, we’re diving into the NBA Finals and the growing influence of small market teams.
When we think of iconic NBA franchises, names like the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and New York Knicks often come to mind. These teams have long been associated with success and fame in the league.
However, this year’s NBA Finals is seeing a shift. For the first time in a long while, two teams that have never won an NBA title are competing—the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
These teams hail from smaller cities: Oklahoma City and Indianapolis. Let’s break down what’s trending up and down as we analyze this unique Finals matchup.
Trending Down: The Combined Size of Home Media Markets for NBA Finals Teams
A major shift is happening when we look at the combined size of the home media markets for the NBA Finals teams. In 2024, the two teams in the Finals, Boston and Dallas, each had media markets that covered over 2 million homes. This year, however, both the Pacers and Thunder are in much smaller media markets.
- Indianapolis has just over 1 million homes in its media market.
- Oklahoma City has well under 1 million homes.
Combined, these teams have a media market size of under 2 million homes. This is a huge change from the 2024 Finals, where the combined media market size was far higher. In fact, this year’s Finals feature the smallest media markets for the two teams in at least the last 40 years.
Trending Down: The Average NBA Finals Team’s Worth
Another area where we see a difference is in the valuation of the teams. While both the Pacers and Thunder are worth billions, they are still significantly lower in value compared to other NBA teams.
Both teams are valued under $4 billion, which might sound impressive, but it’s a drop from last year when the average valuation was closer to $5 billion.
This year is unique because it features two small market teams in the Finals with lower-than-usual valuations. In fact, this is the first time since at least the early 1990s that the Finals have seen two teams in the bottom 10 in terms of team worth.
Trending Up: Players Under the Age of 25 on NBA Finals Teams
Despite the smaller markets and lower valuations, small market doesn’t mean unexciting. One of the key highlights of this NBA Finals is the presence of young and fresh talent on both teams. Players under the age of 25 have been crucial to the success of both the Pacers and the Thunder.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ star, is a perfect example. His clutch shooting in Game 1 of the Finals was incredible, and what’s even more impressive is that he was still 24 years old on February 1 of this year.
He’s one of 18 players from both teams who were under 25 at the time, marking a record for players under 25 in the NBA Finals since at least the early 1980s.
In addition to Haliburton, we have the Thunder’s star Jalen Williams, who is only 24 years old, and his teammate Chet Holmgren, who is just 23.
These young players are showing a lot of promise, and with such talent, both teams are looking like they could be competitive for years to come.
Looking Ahead: Could the Pacers and Thunder Join the NBA’s Elite?
The rise of small market teams like the Pacers and Thunder could signify a shift in the NBA landscape.
While traditional powerhouse teams like the Bulls, Celtics, Knicks, and Lakers will always be considered iconic, we might soon see the Pacers and Thunder join them in the upper echelons of NBA history.
If the current trend continues and these young teams keep growing, they could very well become future NBA dynasties, making it possible that in years to come, we’ll be talking about the Pacers or Thunder in the same breath as those iconic teams from larger markets.
