In a shocking twist on Inside the NBA, TNT’s Charles Barkley broke from convention, dismissing the Boston Celtics’ chances at a repeat NBA Championship and instead boldly choosing the Oklahoma City Thunder as his pick for the 2025 title. Despite Boston’s blazing start this season, Barkley set social media alight, saying, “I don’t think they’re going [just] to the Finals, I think they’re going to win the World Championship.”
The Celtics, with back-to-back wins over the Knicks (132-109) and the Wizards (122-102), entered the season with all eyes on them as heavy favorites to defend their title. The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has kept the team firing on all cylinders, but Barkley, ever the contrarian, insists Boston isn’t the team to beat. Instead, it’s the Thunder—a young squad that surprised with a gritty win over the Denver Nuggets, last season’s Western Conference champions—that Barkley believes has what it takes.
In Oklahoma City’s 102-87 victory over Denver, the Thunder showcased both depth and determination. Despite poor shooting percentages from deep, the team displayed solid defensive prowess, with newcomer Alex Caruso making an immediate impact on the floor. Though he scored no points, Caruso’s hustle and defensive intensity sent a clear message. “It’s not always about points—sometimes it’s grit that wins games,” Barkley commented. Bench players like Aaron Wiggins stepped up too, adding 15 points on 7-9 shooting.
Denver’s offseason addition, Russell Westbrook, struggled, going 2-10 from the field and ending with a minus-24 rating during his minutes on the court. While it’s only the season opener, OKC’s performance hints at a team capable of taking on the league’s giants.
Barkley is known for his “guarantees,” though he humorously dodged one here, adding a touch of suspense. “I’m not guaranteeing it,” he said, grinning, “but I think this Thunder team has got what it takes.”
Whether Barkley’s prediction proves prophetic or premature remains to be seen, but his choice has undoubtedly sparked debate. With Boston laser-focused on proving doubters wrong and Oklahoma City hoping to capitalize on newfound hype, this NBA season just got a lot more intriguing. Will Barkley’s Thunder prediction ring true, or will Boston make him eat his words? Only time will tell.
