Team Ball is Back: Why I’m Loving the Pacers (and OKC) Finals Run
June 12, 2025
Forget superteams. Forget “Big 3s.” Forget the ESPN hype machine that only seems to care when a jersey says Lakers or Knicks on the front. What we’re seeing right now in the 2025 NBA Finals? That’s basketball—team ball. And I love it.
That’s the number one reason I’m locked into this Pacers run. Not because I’m from Indiana (I’m not). Not because I’m a diehard fan (I wasn’t). But because this team reminds me of how basketball used to feel. Back when you played in the park or church league/high school and everybody had a role. You had that one dude you trusted when the game got tight. For the Pacers, that’s Tyrese Haliburton. For OKC, it’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And for once, we got two Finals squads that ain’t built off hype—they’re built off chemistry, grit, and real development.
Let’s talk Tyrese.
The man is stepping into his moment perfectly. Leading the league in swag right now. Just dropped his debut signature shoe—the PUMA Hali 1, designed by Salehe Bembury. That’s a collab I never knew I needed, and now I want two pairs. A smooth “Hibiscus” colorway, dropped right as he steps onto the Finals stage for the first time. That’s how you debut a legacy.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton debuted his new PUMA shoes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
But what matters even more? He’s backing it up. Game 3 vs OKC? 22-11-9. And it wasn’t even just the stats—it was how he got them. Pulling up with confidence. Reading the double and flinging cross-court lasers to Nesmith for game-sealing threes. Shaking off defenders, calling his own number. He ain’t hiding behind a system—he is the system now.
And he’s not doing it alone either. McConnell? Menace. Mathurin? Microwaved 27 off the bench. Siakam, Toppin, Nesmith—everybody stepping in like they’re trying to win the city a banner. This is team basketball with a leader. That’s the key.
And then you got Shai.
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Shai out here playing like a kung fu monk. Calm, calculated, but deadly. That SHAI 001 Converse shoe drop had the same quiet fire. He’s not trying to be the loudest—he’s just the smoothest. His MVP-caliber season carried OKC here, and even when they struggle with turnovers (like in Game 3), his presence is always dangerous. You can’t relax when he’s on the floor.
Both squads are young. Both squads were built—not bought. They ain’t stacked with aging Hall of Famers or names chasing one more ring. They got dudes who believe. And that’s why this Finals is more refreshing than any we’ve had in years.
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Look—when LeBron, Steph, and KD finally hang it up, the NBA will be fine. Why? Because the future is now. You got Ant-Man in Minnesota. Ja when he’s focused. Cade in Detroit. Paolo. Jalen Williams. And right now, you got Tyrese and Shai showing us exactly how you earn household name status—not through drama or forced narratives, but through winning, leadership, and consistency.
I hope the league sees this. I hope the league learns from this. Stop chasing clickbait trades. Let these young stars grow with their squads. Develop real chemistry. Promote them off the court. Push the culture. Let the fans choose their icons organically—just like we did with AI, Bron, Steph.
If Indiana wins this? You can’t ignore Haliburton anymore.
If OKC wins? That Shai MVP award will be beyond justified.
Either way, this Finals is a win for basketball. Team ball is back.
And I’m here for it.
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