The Legacy of a Trade: How Rashard Lewis Shaped the NBA Finals Teams of 2025
In a crucial moment during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, players Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard from the Indiana Pacers, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams from the Oklahoma City Thunder, made significant contributions. Nembhard's three-pointer following a missed shot by Williams could have given the Thunder a 9-point lead, but Nembhard's shot over Gilgeous-Alexander changed the momentum. Later, with the Thunder holding a slim 1-point lead, Gilgeous-Alexander missed a crucial jumper, leading to Haliburton's game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds remaining.
All four players, Haliburton, Nembhard, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Williams, have been instrumental in their teams' success in recent seasons. Their paths can be traced back to a trade made by Sam Presti, then the general manager of the Seattle SuperSonics, in the summer of 2007. The sign-and-trade deal involving forward Rashard Lewis played a pivotal role in shaping the rosters of both NBA Finals teams in 2025.