Two Haitian-Canadian Stars Face Off in Historic Game 7 as Oklahoma City Thunder Crown a New Era in Basketball
By The haitian Pulse Editorial Team | June 23, 2025
In a pulsating Game 7 finale that combined grit, heartbreak, and history, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103–91 to win the 2025 NBA Championship—marking their first title since relocating from Seattle in 2008. But beyond the hardwood tactics and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP-worthy brilliance, this year’s Finals will be remembered for something far more profound: two Haitian-Canadian stars, Bennedict Mathurin and Luguentz Dort, making history by becoming the first players of Haitian descent to face off in an NBA Finals series.
“I play for my family, for Haiti, and for the kids watching who need to see that this is possible.”
— Bennedict Mathurin, postgame interview
A Game of Legacy
The final game was an emotional rollercoaster. The Pacers surged early behind the red-hot shooting of Tyrese Haliburton, who knocked down three quick triples—only to go down late in the first quarter with what appeared to be a devastating Achilles injury. From that moment, the Thunder seized control, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivering a 29-point, 12-assist masterclass.
Lu Dort, the Thunder’s defensive anchor, may not have filled the box score, but his fingerprints were all over the game. From suffocating perimeter pressure to timely rotations, Dort embodied the gritty, team-first ethos that propelled OKC all season.
“Defense isn’t sexy, but it wins rings. I’ll take that over highlights any day.”
— Luguentz Dort, when asked about his under-the-radar performance
Haitian Heritage Center Stage
In a league that thrives on star power and storylines, the Finals offered something special: a cultural triumph for the Haitian diaspora. Mathurin and Dort, both born to Haitian parents and raised in Montreal, carried more than team colors on their backs—they carried a nation’s hope.
“This is for Haiti. For our people back home. We’ve been through so much, and yet we keep rising.”
— Dort, proudly wearing a Haitian flag after Game 1
Mathurin, who came off the bench for Indiana, delivered an astonishing 24 points and 13 rebounds in Game 7—arguably the best performance of his young playoff career. Though the loss stung, he walked off the court with his head high, flashing a three-finger salute to the sky—“Sak Pase” pride on full display.
“I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be here. But look at us now—two Haitian boys on the biggest stage. That’s bigger than basketball.”
— Mathurin, when asked about sharing the Finals stage with Dort
Global Eyes on Haiti
The significance of this matchup extended well beyond NBA circles. In Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien, and Jacmel, local bars stayed open deep into the night. Children draped in makeshift jerseys screamed every time Mathurin touched the ball. In Brooklyn and Miami’s Little Haiti, murals of both players appeared overnight with one word: “Lavi”—life.
“Seeing them in the Finals felt like seeing the future of Haiti: strong, proud, unbreakable.”
— Marline Desrosiers, Haitian-American educator in Boston
Their journey was not without obstacles. Mathurin lost his older brother to a tragic bicycle accident when he was 12—an event that nearly derailed his passion for the game. Dort, undrafted in 2019, clawed his way into the league through sheer hustle and unrelenting defense.
“We weren’t supposed to be here. But we believed. That’s the Haitian way.”
— Mathurin, reflecting on his road to the NBA
A Finals Bigger Than Basketball
This series offered more than a title. It was a celebration of Haitian excellence, diaspora determination, and the evolving face of the NBA. As the champagne dried and the confetti settled, fans weren’t just talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance or Haliburton’s misfortune—they were talking about the emergence of a new legacy.
In a world too often defined by struggle, two sons of Haiti brought joy, pride, and fire to the game—and reminded everyone watching: Haiti is not just surviving. Haiti is soaring.
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