Two unicorns have the Cavs and Thunder on an NBA Finals collision course

Parity might define today’s NBA, but two teams have managed to rise above the chaos: the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder. All season long, they’ve been dominant, sitting atop their respective conferences with legitimate title aspirations.

Their approaches may differ, but their core formula is strikingly similar. Each boasts an elite, go-to superstar in Donovan Mitchell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, alongside a versatile, do-it-all big in Evan Mobley and Chet Holmgren.

While Mitchell and SGA have proven they can deliver on the biggest stage, the real X-factors for these teams’ championship hopes? The big men.

Evan Mobley is the key to unlocking the Cleveland Cavaliers' ceiling

We know what to expect from Donovan Mitchell in the postseason—high-scoring, clutch performances that can swing a series. But for the Cavs to truly contend, they need a reliable second option, and Evan Mobley has the opportunity to be that guy.

Yes, Darius Garland has had a strong season, figuring out how to coexist with Mitchell in the backcourt. But looking ahead to a potential Eastern Conference Finals showdown with Boston, history suggests it won’t be Garland who makes the difference. Last postseason, he struggled against the Celtics’ suffocating perimeter defense, averaging just 16 PPG on 40% shooting from the field and 30% shooting from three.

Mobley, though, presents a different challenge. His size and versatility could force Boston to adjust—if Jayson Tatum is tasked with guarding him in the post, that’s a matchup Cleveland has to exploit. And on the other end, Mobley’s DPOY-level defense gives the Cavs much-needed flexibility, allowing De’Andre Hunter to slide to the four and open up the floor for Mitchell.

Simply put, if Mobley asserts himself—using his size to punish mismatches while anchoring the defense—Cleveland gains a weapon that Boston doesn’t have an answer for.

Chet Holmgren is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s not-so-secret weapon in the West

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on a tear, making a legitimate case to unseat Nikola Jokić as league MVP. You can pencil him in for 30 a night, no questions asked. But just like the Cavs, the Thunder’s title chances hinge on who steps up as their second option.

Yes, Jalen Williams is having a breakout year and earned his first All-Star nod, but the Western Conference is stacked with elite perimeter talent. The Lakers roll out LeBron James and Luka Donic, the Warriors have Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, and even Memphis, when healthy, boasts a solid duo in Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

But what sets Oklahoma City apart? Chet Holmgren.

True seven-footers who can dominate inside and out are a rare commodity in the NBA—especially in the West. Outside of Jokić (and a sidelined Victor Wembanyama), Holmgren is one of the few bigs who can both protect the rim and stretch the floor.

Before his injury, Holmgren was averaging 18.2 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 2.8 BPG while shooting 40% from deep—numbers that had him on track for an All-Star selection. If he can regain that form, OKC suddenly has a frontcourt weapon that most playoff teams simply can’t match.

Are we headed for a Thunder-Cavs NBA Finals?

It’s a real possibility. Both teams have the talent, depth, and coaching to make deep runs. But for either to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, their unicorn bigs have to rise to the occasion.

Mobley and Holmgren aren’t just complementary pieces—they’re the difference between a strong season and a championship run.