Michael Carter-Williams on NBA transition to May 29 boxing debut: 'I took my licks a bunch'
Former NBA star Michael Carter-Williams is staying active, but not on the court. The 2013 Rookie of the Year, who's been retired from basketball since 2023, is turning his attention to the combat sports world.
Carter-Williams, 33, has always been a fight fan, which is what convinced him to give it a go himself. On May 29, he makes his boxing debut in an amateur match against Sam Khativ at Broad Street Brawl in New York. The heavyweight contest will be contested over three two-minute rounds and raise funds for Bigvision Community, a nonprofit that aids young adults recovering from substance abuse.
Advertisement
Aside from the great cause, why would Carter-Williams want to compete?
"I think it's just to scratch that itch," he explained on Wednesday's "The Ariel Helwani Show." "I've been competing my whole life, and that's something I want to do. I want to continue to compete. I respect the sport. I'm a big fan. I watch a lot. I've got a lot of friends that fight."
Carter-Williams' age theoretically gives him plenty of time left to have a decent go in boxing if he wants to seriously pursue a career change. Ultimately, his NBA run was cut short due to a combination of ankle injuries and his desire to spend more time with his family. He recalled gaining a noticeable amount of weight immediately after retiring from professional basketball and working out less. The Syracuse alum eventually got back into the swing of an exercise routine, but that still wasn't enough — hence the boxing gym became Carter-Williams' new go-to through a friend, and he started to take to it more and more.
Advertisement
Carter-Williams has taken it seriously and said he spars "heavy" at least twice a week ahead of his upcoming amateur debut. His ankle issues of the past have been absent thus far in his boxing training.
Taking a punch is always one of the biggest question marks surrounding athletes who make the jump to pugilism. But when Carter-Williams first met with trainer Jeovanny Estrela, he was ready to get to work.
Thus far, the physical nature of the sport hasn't been a problem.
"I was kind of used to it off the bat," Carter-Williams said of getting punched. "That was one of those things going in sparring where I was kind of proud of myself. I wasn't nervous, jittery. I try to go in there aggressive. I took my licks a bunch of times. Honestly, I was aggressive. It didn't phase me as much. Getting hit, there was a couple times where I was like, 'OK, that's what it feels like to get your bell rung a little bit.'"
Advertisement
Considering how big of a fight fan and natural competitor Carter-Williams is, it may be hard for him to stay away from the game if his debut goes well. For now, that's all he's worried about, but don't think the 6-foot-6 former hooper hasn't already scoped out the boxing niche he'd instantly fit right into with Misfits Boxing's brand of celebrity/influencer pugilism.
"I think I want to," Carter-Williams said of doing multiple boxing matches. "I don't know where it's going to take me or where it's going to lead me. I know that there's an avenue for people, who played professional sports, who enter the boxing ring. There's a lane there. I don't know, I'm kind of taking it one step at a time. It's one of those things I definitely want to keep getting better at.
"I've thought about [the influencer angle]. I want to get this under my belt and go from there."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
14 minutes ago
- New York Times
Does Tom Thibodeau's Knicks dismissal prove no NBA coach's job is safe?
The Bounce Newsletter | This is The Athletic's daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox. On this date in 1987, Michael Cooper set a finals record with six made 3-pointers. At the time, single games averaged 2.8 made 3-pointers per game, so that's the equivalent of someone hitting roughly 58 3-pointers in a finals game in today's NBA. Feels like Steph Curry could do it. Also, nobody check that math. Will Knicks replace Tom Thibodeau with clone? Leading up to the playoffs, you'd hear a lot of rumors about the future of Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks. It often sounded like anything short of a conference finals appearance (or beyond) for Thibodeau's Knicks was going to result in him being fired. However, it also just sounded like people trying to guess whether or not James Dolan was going to be an itchy owner once again. Advertisement Well, after making the Eastern Conference finals and losing to the Pacers in six games, the Knicks actualized those rumors. They relieved Thibodeau of his duties, which is a nice way of saying they kicked his ass to the curb. After five seasons with the Knicks, Thibodeau is out and the Knicks are now looking for a new head coach. Before we get to the coaching possibilities, I'm not sure Thibodeau's firing was warranted. Above all, the organization can definitely decide there's a better voice out there. But in five seasons, Thibodeau gave the Knicks an identity, clicked with their new star player Jalen Brunson and brought them to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. He's the fourth-winningest coach in franchise history (226). James Edwards III wrote that Thibs deserved another season and I tend to agree. He didn't seem to lose the locker room. He seemed to learn in real time during the conference finals that he needed to adapt to more depth. His coaching and minutes didn't lead to some big injury. I guess I'm failing to understand what the problem is. It feels like they're firing against the potential problem of a fallout on the sidelines, rather than something actually happening. That brings us to the top candidates, as of right now. The natural one that comes up, first and foremost, is Michael Malone. He just got fired from the Nuggets with three games left in the season. He's a New York guy, he has a championship ring and he also is repped by CAA, which fits in nicely with the assumed preferences of the Knicks over the last couple decades (give or take a couple years). Malone is a really good coach, but let's remember what got him fired in Denver. The criticism from the Nuggets front office the coach was feuding with was he didn't play enough of his bench, he played his starters a lot of minutes, and there were a lot of questions about their team defense. Thibodeau is known as a defensive-minded coach from his days as an assistant for the Celtics and as a head coach for the Bulls, but his teams really haven't defended consistently since. Malone's teams were getting pretty rough defensively, but he also had flawed rosters with questionable personnel and injuries to go with it. Advertisement Does any of this sound familiar? You'd essentially be hiring the same guy with a different voice and hairline. Maybe that works. Sometimes, a change in voice does do the trick. And Malone is a good coach. I'm just not sure he's a better coach than Thibodeau. I have no idea if Malone's 'give the ball to Nikola Jokić' offense works with the Knicks, mostly because they don't have Jokić. Other candidates could include Cleveland assistant Johnny Bryant, who is one of the top candidates for the Phoenix job. There's also Taylor Jenkins, who was just fired with nine games left in the season by the Grizzlies. Mike Brown, who was fired midseason by the Kings? All of these are good coaches or potentially good coaches. I'm just not sure they're better than Thibodeau. Regardless, the Knicks have decided to make a change. In the words of Knicks legend Charles Oakley, 'If it ain't broke, don't break it.' Finals flights had to avoid poor weather ✈️ Flight diverted. The Pacers actually had to land in Tulsa due to a tornado warning. Thankfully, everybody landed safely. 🏀 What a journey. The path of Pascal Siakam's NBA career has prepared him. It's time for another finals appearance. 🏀 Progress? It's been 12 years since Jason Collins came out as an openly gay athlete. Is it any easier? 🚫 Thank Indy. The Pacers never cared to tank. Jason Lloyd explains why the NBA should rejoice. 🎧 Tuning in. Today's 'NBA Daily' discusses why Jalen Williams is the make-or-break player in the NBA Finals. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process. The story of the greatest players in NBA history. Are the Thunder a team people don't like? I've been trying to figure something out about this Thunder team as they seem to be on the cusp of winning their first NBA championship. Do people outside of Oklahoma City hate this team? Maybe hate is too strong of a word, especially considering how loosely it's used in sports on the internet. But something I've noticed during this run by the Thunder, as they've trounced the league in front of them, is how little people outside of the Thunder fan base appear to be embracing them as a team they like and enjoy. It's confusing for a few reasons. After all, this is a … This Thunder team is deep and awesome, and yet I tend to find negativity thrown its way along this journey. I've wondered if some of this is just the bubble I'm in with friend groups and on social media. I have some friends with some basketball opinions I really respect, and so few of them have embraced enjoying this Thunder team. I've asked them what their issue is and these are some of the replies: There were more, but this seems like a good representation. The most common ones were the accusations of corniness, the foul calls and the Seattle factor. But everybody also seemed resigned to the fact that they're going to win the title, and were wondering if people will care at all, outside of OKC. It makes me wonder if 1) this is true and 2) if this is a fair question. So, I bring it to you, The Bouncers! Here is a Google Form about whether you hate the OKC Thunder. We'll share the results later this week. NBA, Stanley Cup Finals share similar vibes Over at our behemoth of a newsletter The Pulse, Chris Branch had the fun idea of having a conversation between me and Sean McIndoe about the respective championship series we're covering in our newsletters. Sean is one of the amazing scribes of Red Light, our incredible hockey newsletter. And … well … you know me from this space. Advertisement The NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final both feature fascinating matchups. We have a battle of some of the smallest markets in the NBA with Indianapolis (25th) and OKC (47th). In the NHL, we have a fun rematch of last year's seven-game chaotic series between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. Branch asked us questions, and we gave answers. Branch: What's the most interesting thing to you about the other sport's title series? Sean: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I think it's cool how you guys have copied the NHL's longstanding 'the best player in the final is a Canadian' gimmick. Zach: They move around on knives! How does this not freak people out?! I also find it fascinating that we haven't had a Canadian team win a Stanley Cup title in over 30 years, and a team from Florida could block the Oilers two years in a row. There is anxiety over the marketability of both series. What are you most wary about? Sean: The concern these days in the NHL isn't that smaller-market teams are having success. The problem is whether those smaller markets now have an advantage over the bigger ones, due to financial factors and player preferences, among other things. There's debate over whether this is actually a real problem at all. But as a league, and a business, you don't want the markets that are driving your revenue to feel like they're falling behind. That narrative, accurate or not, will only get stronger with another Florida win. Zach: I think I'm most wary about this being a short series. The basketball should be really good. But you can have good basketball in all of the games and end up with a sweep. Just ask last year's Pacers, who played the Celtics extremely well in the conference finals but ended up getting swept. This is a great basketball matchup, but the Thunder might make quick work of it. Concerns aside, there are superstars here aplenty. Outside of the obvious names, who's the most interesting player a general fan should know before puck drop/tipoff? Sean: Let me go off the board here with my pick: Sasha Barkov, the Panthers center who may be the best two-way player in the league. On a team full of rats (and proud of it), he just quietly goes about his business, dominating at both ends of the rink. He's kind of the Phil Hartman of the Panthers, the glue guy who makes it all work even if he isn't the one getting most of the headlines. Zach: Chet Holmgren and Pascal Siakam! Holmgren moves around like his shoulders are held up by a wire coat hanger. He can do it all on the court and is 7-foot-1. It's like watching a Tim Burton drawing audition for a new 'Space Jam' movie. And despite Siakam giving himself the horrible 'Spicy P' nickname, he's been a tremendous weapon. He's scoring within four seconds after opponent baskets and has been the Pacers' leading scorer. Advertisement In 25 or fewer words, give us one wild yet realistic prediction for your series. Sean: The Edmonton Oilers become the greatest Canadian Stanley Cup winners of the last 32 years. Zach: The Pacers will win Game 1, and Haliburton will have his teammates mock the Thunder by doing the sideline interview together. Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Thunder team I played for could have been a dynasty. This one still can
I was in Oklahoma City last month as the Thunder clinched their Western Conference semi-final against the Nuggets in Game 7, and saw first-hand the Thunder run Denver off the court. The game wasn't even close. The Thunder outplayed them on both sides of the court. Defensively, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault put the 6ft 5in Alex Caruso on in the 6ft 11in Nikola Jokić and, surprisingly, it worked. With Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein providing help-side support, I watched a frustrated Jokić struggle to get to his spots. His usual tricks – flopping, drawing fouls – didn't work. The Thunder defense moved in perfect sync, and it completely disrupted Denver's rhythm. Advertisement It was absolutely beautiful to watch. The Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named league MVP shortly afterwards, beating Jokić into second, and he thoroughly deserved the award. Their superior defense was on display again in the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the Game 5 win that sealed the Thunder's progress to the NBA finals, I watched them destroy the Timberwolves and defense was once again the key. Minnesota's Anthony Edwards described the Thunder's defense as: 'One string, 15 puppets on one string.' Related: The New York Knicks' season is over, but a divisive inquest has only just begun That's what's driven their rise all year. In a league where defense is often overlooked or criticized, the Thunder have made it their identity. And now, they're just four wins away from an NBA title. Advertisement But as I have been enjoying this current Thunder team, I can't help but think back to the Thunder team I played for in 2010. The Thunder are heavily favored to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA finals, which start on Thursday, and they are the youngest team to ever make the finals since … the Thunder did so with a whole different cast in 2012. But I can say with 100% confidence, that if the Thunder kept that team – with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Serge Ibaka – they would have won multiple championships. Back in 2009-2010, when I was part of the roster, the Thunder were extremely young. Scott Brooks was the coach. It was James Harden's rookie year. I remember when I first met him, he shook my hand and said: 'Nice to meet you sir. I grew up watching you play in college with Syracuse. You was blocking everything and dunking everything' That's when I realized I was now the old man in the room. But it also hit me – Harden was in the same position I'd once been in when I joined the Washington Wizards as a rookie, meeting guys like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and Christian Laettner. Advertisement Throughout that season, myself, Kevin Ollie and Nick Collison, who were some of the elder statesmen on the team, would sit and watch the younger guys, shaking our heads and saying, 'These young cats have no idea how good they are going to be'. It all started with KD. He was the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring at the time. And his work ethic was something I had never seen before. I remember after one practice, KD was doing this drill he liked – playing one-on-one against an invisible defender. But he went at it with the intensity of someone competing in the NBA finals. Every move was as sharp and deliberate as possible. Everything was at game speed. Advertisement After practice, we all went in – showered, ate, got treatment, talked. Some of the coaches watched film with players. Then we came back out to the court, and KD was still out there, going full speed with his one-on-one moves. Dripping with sweat. He'd been at it for nearly two hours. I had never seen that kind of focus before. But when the team's star is working that hard, everyone else falls in line-and that's exactly what happened. The whole team rose to his level. Even after someone had a big game, they were back in the gym the next day, working like they'd just lost. They were running defensive slides and drills in the middle of the season, when most teams were cutting practice time. Harden fell right in line and worked hard every day. Even when he made rookie mistakes, he picked up the work ethic quickly. It was clear – if KD didn't have a problem being criticized, Harden couldn't either. I watched Harden study KD closely – how hard he worked on his shot, his offensive moves, his cuts to the basket, how he moved without the ball. Even after dropping 40 the night before, KD went right back to work. And Harden noticed. Advertisement Then there was Russell Westbrook – fearless, relentless. He trained harder than anyone and played like a Tasmanian devil, all intensity and energy. He'd pick up full court, never taking a play off. I remember Coach Brooks telling the staff, 'If we don't get this guy to slow down, he's going to wear himself out.' But he never did. He just kept going – full speed, all the time. Westbrook was being mentored by Maurice Cheeks, who really took him under his wing, guiding and encouraging him. I remember hearing them talk on the plane after games – you could feel the intensity and passion in Russ's voice. That hunger was real, and it was going to take him far. And it did. Then there was Jeff Green – one of the most underappreciated players on that Thunder team, in my opinion. He was an integral part of their success. He never complained about shots, touches, or a lack of recognition. He just showed up and did his job. Too quick for most power forwards, too strong for most small forwards, and incredibly efficient. He didn't back down from anyone. And his ability to guard positions 2 through 5 made him invaluable. Ibaka was young, athletic, and raw – but he was soaking everything in. He watched KD's work ethic, Westbrook's intensity, Green's professionalism, Harden's shooting (he even did all the shooting drills Harden did on his own time), and Thabo Sefolosha's defensive awareness. Thabo, by the way, was also a key part of that team. Advertisement Let me be clear: I'm not placing blame on the organization or any player for why this group didn't stay together and become a dynasty. But the talent was there. And they were only going to get better. This will go down as one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA history – not if they would've won a title together, but how many they could have won if they'd stayed together. This current OKC team has similar levels of talent. But this time, there's a real chance to finish what they started. And with the NBA finals starting Thursday, they have the chance to begin a championship run – one that could last for years.
New York Times
19 minutes ago
- New York Times
Everything you need to know about the 2025 NBA Finals between Thunder, Pacers
Just catching up ahead of the start of the NBA Finals this week? We've got you covered. With two small-market teams set to face off for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, there remains a good bit of the NBA-viewing public who perhaps didn't see much of the Oklahoma City Thunder or Indiana Pacers on national TV this season. So, allow us to bring you up to speed on what you might have missed. Advertisement Here's everything you need to know about the Thunder and Pacers, courtesy of The Athletic NBA staff's coverage. + Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not just an elite scorer; he's so, so smooth with it. Watching him get buckets is almost therapeutic. Right before our eyes, SGA has blossomed into a historic scoring machine His handle is silkier than one of his half-buttoned shirts. He doesn't wow you with dribble moves, but he handles the rock so fluidly. His moves and counters. The improvisational way he manipulates leverage and shifts into spaces. And it's all punctuated with a midrange jumper that ol' heads would call butter. He's the new Kevin Durant in that sense. You know how KD makes putting the ball in the basket feel like breathing? How it feels so automatic as to be inevitable? SGA is of that ilk. Smooth for no reason. He scores like cats walk. Like Les Twins dance. Like Penelope Cruz says, 'Nespresso.' (Read more from Marcus Thompson II) + NBA titles aren't won without star talent populating the top of the roster. The Thunder have it. But 68-win teams aren't built without layers of depth and a firm identity. The Thunder also have it. They are a ferocious, turnover-hungry bunch engulfing the league on the defensive end. That starts at the point of attack, where Oklahoma City has developed, drafted and traded for the three-headed monster of Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso — three of the league's best on-ball bulldogs who go about their business differently but torment opponents together over 48 relentless minutes. 'It's endless,' Caruso said. 'An endless wave.' (Read more from Anthony Slater) + A unique approach has taken SGA to the pinnacle of basketball. Most high school recruit rankings plopped him somewhere in the 30s before he headed to Kentucky in 2017. He wasn't drafted until the end of the lottery the next year. The LA Clippers dealt him to the Thunder as part of the Paul George trade after only one pro season, when he showed promise, but no one predicted he would become one of the NBA's preeminent franchise centerpieces. His in-season workouts are more routine than those summertime sessions, going through usual warm-ups with Oklahoma City's coaches before games, practices or in open gyms. But the offseason is when Gilgeous-Alexander's process stands out because no one of his level does it like him: with the same group of loyal friends who never sniffed the NBA and with a slew of live defenders at all times hustling until their hearts feel like they'll give out just to gang up on a slithery scorer. (Read more from Fred Katz) Advertisement + Nikola Jokić, a second-round pick (No. 41) in the 2014 NBA Draft, probably has the most unforeseen rise to league MVP. But Gilgeous-Alexander, who edged out Jokić to prevent the center from winning his fourth MVP, has an atypical path compared to giants like Durant, Russell Westbrook or James Harden, all drafted top four by Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Nobody was labeling Gilgeous-Alexander a future star when the Thunder acquired him. Including himself. (Read more from Anthony Slater) + In his nearly two-decade run since — Sam Presti is the NBA's third-longest tenured lead basketball decision-maker behind only Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley — some of his shrewdest transactions have been of a certain variety. He generates financial flexibility, absorbs a contract (often a respected veteran) and generates an asset along with it. The first of those maneuvers came at the expense of Steve Kerr, and when tracing the ramifications of it, might be the greatest example of how the smaller moves can help generate a domino effect that produces the birth and rebirth of a contending franchise. (Read more from Anthony Slater) + Coming up short with Team Canada in last summer's Olympics played a part in fueling SGA for this special Thunder run. 'I think losing that game (to France) really showed me like, 'Now I have to wait another four years for this.' (And) that showed me like, you don't ever want to take things for granted, because nothing in life is promised,' he told Sam Amick in April. 'Like (Thunder) coach (Mark Daigneault) said a couple weeks ago, this group that we have today could be the best group of players I ever play with. You think, 'Oh, we're all 25 or under, so we have a whole runway in front of us.' But you never know what happens.' (Read more from Sam Amick) + SGA was joined at the All-Star Game this season by third-year teammate Jalen Williams. As much as Presti, coach Mark Daigneault and the Thunder's front office warmed to Williams and used a third lottery pick of the 2022 draft on him, it's hard to believe any could've predicted an ascension to these heights this rapidly, Anthony Slater wrote in January ahead of Williams' All-Star selection. (Read more from Anthony Slater) + The Thunder bet big last summer, using a chunk of salary-cap space to sign a second center, Isaiah Hartenstein, in what they felt could be a successful twin-tower approach when combined with third star Chet Holmgren. The Thunder entered the playoffs confident their double-big approach could work against any type of lineup, 'or any team,' Daigneault said. But for it to turn into one of the swing factors in the Western Conference, lifting the Thunder franchise to its first finals since 2012, there was an internal feeling that it must turn from great to elite on the defensive end. (Read more from Anthony Slater) Advertisement + At 40, Daigneault is already considered one of the NBA's best head coaches. Here's why he likes to tell people that if you replayed his life 100 times, this outcome only happens once. (Read more from Anthony Slater) + SGA's trainer reflected on what can be learned from the league MVP: 'From day one, he already had a routine. He was already working. Everyone else was trying to dunk or do crazy moves. He had a paper that he wrote drills on and over in the corner of the gym, just working on his routine.' (Read more) + Which front office is the best in sports? In 2024, the answer to that question was the Oklahoma City Thunder, at least according to their front-office peers. Here's why. (Read more) + Is SGA a 'free-throw merchant?' No, says Eric Nehm. Watch the video below. + Tyrese Haliburton might be on top of the world now, but he remembers the day he couldn't look in the mirror. Those around him didn't know how much pain he was holding in. 'I was really trying to run away from what was going on and I think that point was for me to be like, 'Yo, I don't feel like myself. I don't feel all right. This s—, it's bad.' ' Haliburton said. 'I (was) struggling to look at myself in the mirror. I'm struggling to show up to work and get to the gym. I'm trying to avoid coming to work.' Here's how the Pacers star rediscovered his joy. (Read more from Jared Weiss) + As an exasperated league continues its never-ending quest to stamp out tanking, here come the Indiana Pacers rising from the debris of mediocrity, right on cue. (Read more from Jason Lloyd) + To anyone who has watched the Pacers play lately, their Finals berth is no surprise. They play a relentless, fast-paced, full-court style where they pressure the ball in the backcourt and, on offense, throw it ahead as soon as possible. They have two stars in Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, a competent and reliable bench and role players who seem to have been carved out of a marble slab by Michelangelo to fit perfectly around Haliburton and Siakam. But to the more casual follower — yes, the Pacers are a surprise. (Read more from Joe Vardon) Advertisement + This is the moment for which Pascal Siakam was brought to Indianapolis. With the trade, Siakam, twice an All-Star in Toronto and again this season with the Pacers, brought leadership and championship experience to a young, gutsy team. Siakam was meant to be a perfect complement to Haliburton. And he delivered. 'Well, if you have the right player to build around, it can happen much faster than you think,' head coach Rick Carlisle said. 'Getting Tyrese made it very clear what our identity as a team needed to be. We needed to be a fast-paced team with shooting, and we had some good shooting at the time. The Siakam trade took things to another level.' (Read more from Eric Koreen) + Haliburton's college coach Steve Prohm reflected on what makes the All-Star a special leader: 'Tyrese's personality, his smile, his demeanor allowed him to connect with anybody from any walk of life. Because of his presence, because of his personality, he empowered other guys to be better.' (Read more) + In his second head coaching stint here with the Pacers, with All-Star and Olympian Tyrese Haliburton the focal point, Rick Carlisle is seeking a second NBA title to go with the one he got in Dallas in 2011. 'If your desire in life is to lead and to teach, NBA head coaching is the ultimate crucible,' Carlisle said. (Read more from David Aldridge) + When Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith became the first player ever to make six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of an NBA playoff game, doing so all in the final 4:46 of Game 1 against the Knicks without a single miss, his high school coach saw something he recognized. Something they'd rehearsed. 'His brain was supposed to shut it down and say, 'Oh, let's get ready for the next one,'' John 'JP' Pearson said. 'He doesn't. He is a different breed.' (Read more from Jay King and Shakeia Taylor) + It's understandable that one would nap on the Pacers, especially after a snoozer of a trade deadline. They were swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics in last year's Eastern Conference finals; like Boston, the Pacers chose continuity in the 2024 offseason. Here's why no one should feel like they snuck up on any team during this year's playoffs. (Read more from Law Murray) + Haliburton heard the haters — and learned to channel those feelings. It started with cutting out the distractions and sources of anxiety. He deleted X from his phone in an attempt to go cold turkey on immersive doomscrolling. He started going back to church, recognizing he was getting caught up within himself and wanting to look at the positives in life. '(Fans) can't wait for a team to be doing bad so people can dunk on you on Twitter, you know what I mean? The s— is so stupid,' Haliburton said. 'It's just part of it. People want to see us not do well so they can talk s—.' Now that Haliburton is in a better place. Maybe he can crack his phone open, see a bunch of trash emojis and crack a smile. They can talk all they want, but he's ready to clap back on his terms, one drive at a time. (Read more from Jared Weiss and Sam Amick) + Haliburton is no longer the overlooked Wisconsin native with the funny-looking jumper. He's the face of the Pacers, with hopes of doing what Reggie Miller once did: Leading Indiana to the NBA Finals. It's a heavy burden, but Haliburton is deeply motivated by those who question his legitimacy — especially those he respects. 'Why haven't you won yet?' he remembers Jeff Van Gundy asking him during the FIBA World Cup last year. It's a question that enraged and fueled him. (Read more from James Boyd) • Game 1: June 5, 8:30 p.m., at Oklahoma City • Game 2: June 8, 8 p.m., at Oklahoma City • Game 3: June 11, 8:30 p.m., at Indiana • Game 4: June 13, 8:30 p.m., at Indiana • Game 5*: June 16, 8:30 p.m., at Oklahoma City • Game 6*: June 19, 8:30 p.m., at Indiana • Game 7*: June 22, 8 p.m., at Oklahoma City * if necessary Streaming: Fubo (try for free), ESPN+
