The 2024/25 NBA season has been an absolute thriller, and with the playoffs nearing their finale, excitement levels are at a fever pitch. In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers look poised to end the Knicks’ fairytale run, leading 3-1, and on the brink of a first finals appearance in a quarter of a century.
Out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder shows no sign of slowing down, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves 3-1 and looking to justify the decision of basketball betting sites that installed them as Larry O’Brien Trophy favorites. With the Finals just around the corner, the latest basketball betting at Bovada odds continues to make OKC the team to beat.
They have them priced at incredibly short odds of -400 to emerge with the championship, with the Pacers just behind at +400. Both the Timberwolves and the Knicks are distant +2500 outsiders, and it would be a huge shock if either of them overturned their conference finals deficits, let alone winning the title.
Throughout the course of the season, plenty of former Texas Longhorns have shone. The Lone Star State program has provided a bucketload of stars to the NBA in recent times, and one of them still harbors genuine hopes of ending the campaign with a championship ring.
Myles Turner
While at Texas during the 2014-15 season, Myles Turner turned heads with his stunning shot-blocking ability. The Indiana Pacers certainly liked what they saw, selecting him 11th overall a decade ago, and he’s been a bedrock in Indianapolis ever since. Now, though, he could be set for his finest-ever moment.
This past season, the former Longhorn has reached new heights. During the regular season, he was a standout for the Pacers, starting 72 games – the second most in his ten-year-long career – and leading by example on both ends of the floor. His shot-blocking prowess remained elite, while his three-point shooting took on a life of its own, with Turner sinking a career-high 39.6% of his efforts from downtown.
But while the 29-year-old played well throughout the regular season, his postseason efforts have been even better. Turner has started all 17 of the Pacers’ playoff games so far, helping his side to shock victories against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks and the much-fancied reigning champion Boston Celtics. Now, he has risen to the occasion once again, helping his side to a 3-1 conference finals lead against the Knicks and putting Indiana on the brink of competing for its first-ever NBA championship.
Jarrett Allen
Jarrett Allen became a Texas fan favorite during his single season in the program. His dominance on the boards and ability to protect the rim showcased immense potential, and he was duly selected in the first round of the 2017 draft by the Nets while he was still a teenager. After four years at the Barclays Center, the Austin-born star made the move to the Cleveland Cavaliers and was a dependable center, if not a world-beater.
Fast-forward to this season, though, and the former Longhorns freshman has had the greatest campaign of his NBA career thus far. He started all 82 games for the Cavs this season, helping them to an unexpected spot at the top of the Eastern Conference regular season standings for the first time since the days of LeBron James.
Allen’s rim protection and rebounding cemented Cleveland as one of the best defensive teams in the league, but the 27-year-old didn’t just shine there. His offensive output was more efficient than ever before, with sharp pick-and-roll finishes and a few highlight reel alley-oops helping him rack up a career-best field goal percentage of over 70%. But unfortunately for both the 6 ft 9 center and his team, the season wouldn’t have the ending that fans dreamed up.
Despite heading into the postseason as the top seeds, the Cavs were stunned by the aforementioned Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals. The Indianapolis outfit romped to a 4-1 series victory, and it remains to be seen whether Cleveland’s stunning campaign is a solid foundation to build upon or just a flash in the pan.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant’s name needs no introduction. The iconic power forward is arguably the greatest-ever sportsman of any kind to pass through the doors in Texas, becoming the first freshman to win both the Naismith and Wooden Awards before putting together a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career in the NBA. But despite all his exploits and accolades, the 2024/25 season proved to be a tough one for the legendary KD.
His Phoenix Suns side conspired to have a disastrous year, finishing bottom of their division after being plagued by injuries all year long. But despite his team’s struggles, Durant continued to demonstrate why he remains one of the league’s best, winning games almost single-handedly in a bid to breathe some kind of life into their campaign.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Durant continued to post impressive numbers, showcasing that trademark scoring efficiency and basketball IQ that have made him so beloved by fans. His mid-range game was as lethal as ever, and his ability to take over games kept the Suns competitive on many nights when they arguably had no right to be in contention. He will be hoping to see an improvement from his team next term, or he could well be set for one last blockbuster move in the off-season before winding down his career.
