By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Basketball can be cruel, disappointing a youngster and future NBA star in Tyrese Haliburton.
After practice on Sunday, the 25-year-old leader of the Indiana Pacers was asked about not being a massive fan of Rick Carlisle as a kid, because under the guidance of his current head coach, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat and his favorite LeBron James in the 2011 NBA Finals.
“I remember that being my first intro to basketball. My earliest recollection of watching the game was like 2010 NBA. I feel like that was really the growth of me as a basketball fan and really starting to appreciate the game more,” he mentioned in a press conference, rewinding to his experience as an 11-year-old fan.
“I don’t know if I necessarily remember a ton of the X’s and O’s stuff. I remember I was confused as to why Dallas was winning. I didn’t necessarily understand it,” he added, “I think about that all the time in my journey here in the NBA, is how much I’ve watched and learned, and how I’m now here in it. That’s funny to think back on, and here I am with Coach Carlisle now. It’s definitely pretty cool.”
Back in 2011, German superstar Dirk Nowitzki was named Most Valuable Player of the Finals, and the Mavs captured the first and only championship in team history.
In a similar underdog role with the Pacers and at 2-2 after four meetings with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 2025 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV resume in Paycom Center on Monday.
2025 NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Conference Quarterfinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 4-0 (121-100, 121-112, 124-87, 138-83)
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 4-1 (103-86, 109-100, 93-95, 107-98, 120-89)
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 4-2 (123-112, 94-100, 118-116, 94-93, 103-106, 116-113)
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 4-1 (117-98, 123-115, 101-117, 129-103, 119-118)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 (131-80, 118-99, 114-108, 117-115)
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 3-4 (85-95, 109-94, 93-104, 106-109, 131-116, 115-107, 89-103)
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 (95-117, 94-85, 104-116, 113-116, 96-103)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers 4-3 (112-110, 102-105, 83-117, 101-99, 131-115, 105-111, 120-101)
Conference Semifinals (best of seven)
East
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 1-4 (112-121, 119-120, 126-104, 109-129, 105-114)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 2-4 (105-108, 90-91, 115-93, 113-121, 127-102, 81-119)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Denver Nuggets 4-3 (119-121, 149-106, 104-113, 92-87, 112-105, 107-119, 125-93)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 4-1 (88-99, 117-93, 102-97, 117-110, 121-110)
Conference Finals (best of seven)
East
New York Knicks – Indiana Pacers 2-4 (135-138, 109-114, 106-100, 121-130, 111-94, 108-125)
West
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1 (114-88, 118-103, 101-143, 128-126, 124-94)
NBA Finals (best of seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Indiana Pacers 2-2 (110-111, 123-107, 107-116, 111-104)