The NBA Finals start in Oklahoma City on ABC at 5:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, June 5.
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren is a Western Conference Finals champion and is four wins away from being named an NBA Finals champion. Indiana’s Andrew Nembhard is one win away from challenging Holmgren for the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.
In the 124-94 Game 6 victory over Minnesota to wrap up the series, the 7-1 center finished with 22 points on 8-for-13 field goals/2-for-4 three-pointers/4-for-6 free throws to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks.
Next stop —> @NBA Finals pic.twitter.com/6VXTo9bzZg
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) May 29, 2025
After sitting out the entire 2022-23 campaign with a Lisfranc injury to his right foot and missing 39 games this season due to a pelvic fracture, Holmgren has clawed his way back to both the top of his game and the league.
“I can never take it for granted because, like you just said, I couldn’t even walk for two months.” – Chet Holmgren during ESPN’s trophy presentation
Holmgren has averaged 16.4 points on a shooting split of 48.9 field goal percentage/33.3 three-point percentage/75.7 free throw percentage, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game during this 16-game postseason run.
Here are all the Zags that have reached the NBA Finals:
Utah Jazz’s John Stockton – two NBA Finals appearances (1997, 1998)
Los Angeles Lakers’ Adam Morrison – NBA champion (2009, 2010)
Miami Heat’s Ronny Turiaf – NBA champion (2012)
San Antonio Spurs’ Austin Daye – NBA champion (2014)
Miami Heat’s Kelly Olynyk – one NBA Finals appearance (2020)
Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren – one NBA Finals appearance (2025)
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on Twitter @a_cravalho