BREAKING: LeBron James Sends Pascal Siakam Message Before NBA Finals
The 2025 NBA Finals are set to tip-off this Thursday, featuring a compelling matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. The Thunder, boasting a league-best 68-14 regular-season record, enter the series as favorites, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and supported by rising stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.
OKC's dominant defense and depth have been pivotal in its playoff run, which included dispatching the Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
On the other side, the Pacers, seeded fourth in the East, have defied expectations with a 12-4 postseason record. Under the guidance of coach Rick Carlisle, Indiana has embraced a high-paced, collective style of play, with Tyrese Haliburton orchestrating the offense and Pascal Siakam providing versatile scoring.
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and forward Pascal Siakam (43).
© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
As anticipation builds, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, a veteran of 10 NBA Finals and four NBA titles, offered high praise for the Pacers on his Mind The Game podcast.
"At this point, it's just hard to doubt the Pacers... the possession game is gonna be huge. OKC coming in with the MVP... You also look on the other side, the way Hali is playing," James noted.
He also emphasized the importance of championship experience, specifically highlighting Pascal Siakam.
"They've also got guys who have won a championship before," he said. "Pascal has won a championship with the Raptors... they've got guys that are not afraid of the moment and guys that are not afraid to fail."
Siakam's postseason performance has been crucial to Indiana's success. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks, he averaged 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 52.4% from the field and 50% from three-point range, a performance that earned him the Conference Finals MVP. His 31-point performance in the series-deciding Game 6 was particularly key in securing the Pacers' Finals berth.
Facing the formidable 68-win Thunder, the Pacers will encounter their toughest challenge yet. The series promises a thrilling clash of styles, with Indiana's high-octane offense going up against Oklahoma City's stifling defense. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City.