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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: 7 sleepers to watch who have the potential to be late steals
Every year during NBA draft season, the actual playoffs are also happening and a bunch of former late first-rounders, second-rounders, and undrafted guys are making real winning plays. It's happening again right now among the Finals teams: Andrew Nembhard (31st in 2022) is a key starter for Indiana, while point guard T.J. McConnell is in his 10th season and still playing bench minutes after going undrafted in 2015. Pascal Siakam just won East Finals MVP as a late first-rounder (27th in 2016) who transformed from an energizing backup to an all-around star. OKC received massive contributions in the West finals from three undrafted guys: Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams, and Alex Caruso. This followed a series win in which Jaylin Williams (34th in 2022) played crucial minutes. Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein (43rd in 2017), and backup wings Isaiah Joe (49th in 2020) and Aaron Wiggins (55th in 2021) have also made significant contributions. That's what this list is about. Not lottery picks. Just prospects who won't be flashy draft night picks, but might be the reason a team wins a playoff series sooner than later. Here are seven sleepers. Powell doesn't scream sleeper. In fact, he was originally projected as a lottery pick. Then he averaged only 7.4 points as a Tar Heels freshman and began slipping down draft boards. But with a chiseled 6-foot-5 frame, a 7-foot wingspan, and a motor that doesn't quit, Powell projects as the kind of playoff-viable role player every contender can't have enough of. As a North Carolina freshman, opponents shot only 38.1% from 2-point range when defended by Powell, and he was both a switchable perimeter defender and an effective helper at the rim. Advertisement Offensively, he's a connective passer, a straight-line slasher who finishes through contact, and a reliable shooter off the catch. Powell made 40% of his 90 catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. This is consistent with his numbers in high school, where he made 40.2% of his 3s as an upperclassman. (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports Illustration) Powell's stock dipped in part because of the expectations that he'd be more of a primary creator for North Carolina. But he displayed a stiff handle, and his jumper off the dribble is shaky. He missed 16 of his 23 jumpers off the bounce, including all five of his 3s, per Synergy. Last month, Powell worked out for the Bulls, who own the 12th and 45th picks in the draft. Maybe by draft night in late June, he'll rise up boards enough to be drafted a lot closer to 12th than 45th. And that rise has already begun after a stellar draft combine in which he posted the best athletic measurements of anyone there. Advertisement And besides: Development is never linear. Powell was projected as a top-10 pick because of the flashes he showed in high school, making 40.4% of his 94 dribble jumpers as a senior. What if he taps into those skills again down the line? Then taking him in the first round is a no-brainer. Because even without becoming a guy who regularly generates offense, Powell certainly has the role-player foundation to enhance stars and close playoff games. Nembhard is a classic old-school floor general who ran the show for Gonzaga, averaging 9.8 assists to just 2.5 turnovers. He plays with a veteran's poise, throws bullseye passes to shooters, and makes smart decisions. He also finishes well for his size, using crafty angles and soft touch off the glass. And he made progress as a shooter during his senior season. Over his first three college years, he made 37.1% of his catch-and-shoot 3s before making a career-high 44.4% as a senior. The issue was his pull-up 3. He made 27.2% of his dribble jumper 3s through his junior season before making 36.7% as a senior. Finally, his 44.9% stroke on pull-up midrange jumpers began to translate. Though he's still a low-volume shooter, it's encouraging to see his numbers tick up; it's crucial for a player at his size. Advertisement At the draft combine, Nembhard measured in at 5-11 without shoes and only 176 pounds. History isn't kind to guards that small. Then again: After going undrafted in 2015, McConnell is in the 10th season of his career and playing pivotal playoff minutes. Like McConnell, Nembhard might be small, but he has the brain and the floor game to carve out a backup PG role, especially if his shooting proves real. If a team is looking for a bankable NBA skill, Brea has it with his shooting. He drilled 43.4% of his 3s over five college seasons, and it wasn't just spot-ups. Brea moves like a pro relocating, sprinting off screens, setting his feet with perfect balance, and firing with confidence. He's got deep range, a lightning-quick release, and enough size at 6-6 to get his shot off against contests. That gives him a real floor as a rotation player in today's spacing-obsessed league. Advertisement Then you factor in his passing ability. By no means is Brea a primary creator, but he keeps the ball moving and shows connecting passing skill off the dribble. The swing skill is his defense: If he can get stronger and improve his lateral quickness enough to hold his own on defense, he becomes a playoff guy in the mold of a Sam Hauser type. Martin is a violent athlete with a chiseled frame, explosive leaping ability, and a level of physicality that overwhelms softer players. These NBA playoffs showed how much physicality matters, but also how much speed does too. And Martin never seems to run out of energy despite defending full court, crashing the glass, and flying around as a defender and cutter. Advertisement At only 6-2, he's not a primary playmaker and his shot is streaky at 36.4% on 3s across five college seasons, so he doesn't fit neatly into a traditional backcourt role. But in the right system, Martin's blend of athleticism, toughness, and defensive impact could make him a playoff contributor who earns his way onto the floor. Lanier is a flamethrower. After four seasons at North Florida, he transferred to Tennessee and instantly became one of the most dangerous movement shooters in college basketball. He hit 39.5% of his 3s this season, and it wasn't just standstill looks. Lanier sprinted into shots off screens and attacked closeouts with side steps or rhythm pull-ups. He has deep range, lightning-quick mechanics, and the confidence to let it fly no matter the spot on the floor and no matter the defense. But despite the shot-making craft, Lanier has limitations that cap his stock. He's a small combo guard at 6-4, and only 13% of his shots came at the basket, per Synergy. He's not a playmaker either, often misfiring when asked to create. But if a team needs a microwave shooter off the bench who can play off stars and space the floor, Lanier can help an offense tomorrow. Advertisement Sallis plays like a guy who just knows how to hoop. He is a slippery, poised scorer who scores from midrange with advanced body control and has a passing feel. That last point is important, since he measured at only 6-4 without shoes, so he might need to lean into some of his point skills at the next level. At his core, though, Sallis is a bucket-getter. He made 51 midrange pull-ups as a junior then 78 as a senior, hitting 51.2% of his 252 attempts. He's been very streaky from 3-point range, but his touch from midrange and from the line (near 80%) are positive indicators that he'll figure out his catch-and-shoot 3-point jumper. If the shot comes around, he could become a solid secondary creator who contributes on both ends. Yang has a chance to stick in the pros as a throwback big with a massive 7-1 frame. Coming from China, he plays with an old-school style with polished footwork, touch and craft around the basket, and some slick passing skills. Yang consistently makes quick reads out of the post and on handoffs, so he can do some of the things you'd see from an Alperen Şengün or Isaiah Hartenstein type of big. And much like them, he flashes a shooting touch that may or may not translate. Advertisement Defensively, he's a strong positional rebounder and space-eater in the paint who uses his size to wall off drivers and clean the glass. But Yang hasn't shown the foot speed to defend in space or comfortably switch, even against Chinese competition. If anything holds him back from carving out an NBA career, it'll be his defense. But Yang's offensive talent gives him a chance to be the best Chinese big man to play in the NBA since Yao Ming. And if his athleticism improves to the point he can survive on defense, then his offensive upside gives him the potential to be a major steal. Who are your sleepers in the 2025 draft class? Let me know in the comments below, and check out my Draft Guide with scouting reports of every player and a two-round mock.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: 7 sleepers to watch who could be difference-makers at the next level
Every year during NBA draft season, the actual playoffs are also happening and a bunch of former late first-rounders, second-rounders, and undrafted guys are making real winning plays. It's happening again right now among the Finals teams: Andrew Nembhard (31st in 2022) is a key starter for Indiana, while point guard T.J. McConnell is in his 10th season and still playing bench minutes after going undrafted in 2015. Pascal Siakam just won East Finals MVP as a late first-rounder (27th in 2016) who transformed from an energizing backup to an all-around star. OKC received massive contributions in the West finals from three undrafted guys: Lu Dort, Kenrich Williams, and Alex Caruso. This followed a series win in which Jaylin Williams (34th in 2022) played crucial minutes. Starting center Isaiah Hartenstein (43rd in 2017), and backup wings Isaiah Joe (49th in 2020) and Aaron Wiggins (55th in 2021) have also made significant contributions. That's what this list is about. Not lottery picks. Just prospects who won't be flashy draft night picks, but might be the reason a team wins a playoff series sooner than later. Here are seven sleepers. Powell doesn't scream sleeper. In fact, he was originally projected as a lottery pick. Then he averaged only 7.4 points as a Tar Heels freshman and began slipping down draft boards. But with a chiseled 6-foot-5 frame, a 7-foot wingspan, and a motor that doesn't quit, Powell projects as the kind of playoff-viable role player every contender can't have enough of. As a North Carolina freshman, opponents shot only 38.1% from 2-point range when defended by Powell, and he was both a switchable perimeter defender and an effective helper at the rim. Advertisement Offensively, he's a connective passer, a straight-line slasher who finishes through contact, and a reliable shooter off the catch. Powell made 40% of his 90 catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. This is consistent with his numbers in high school, where he made 40.2% of his 3s as an upperclassman. (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports Illustration) Powell's stock dipped in part because of the expectations that he'd be more of a primary creator for North Carolina. But he displayed a stiff handle, and his jumper off the dribble is shaky. He missed 16 of his 23 jumpers off the bounce, including all five of his 3s, per Synergy. Last month, Powell worked out for the Bulls, who own the 12th and 45th picks in the draft. Maybe by draft night in late June, he'll rise up boards enough to be drafted a lot closer to 12th than 45th. And that rise has already begun after a stellar draft combine in which he posted the best athletic measurements of anyone there. Advertisement And besides: Development is never linear. Powell was projected as a top-10 pick because of the flashes he showed in high school, making 40.4% of his 94 dribble jumpers as a senior. What if he taps into those skills again down the line? Then taking him in the first round is a no-brainer. Because even without becoming a guy who regularly generates offense, Powell certainly has the role-player foundation to enhance stars and close playoff games. Nembhard is a classic old-school floor general who ran the show for Gonzaga, averaging 9.8 assists to just 2.5 turnovers. He plays with a veteran's poise, throws bullseye passes to shooters, and makes smart decisions. He also finishes well for his size, using crafty angles and soft touch off the glass. And he made progress as a shooter during his senior season. Over his first three college years, he made 37.1% of his catch-and-shoot 3s before making a career-high 44.4% as a senior. The issue was his pull-up 3. He made 27.2% of his dribble jumper 3s through his junior season before making 36.7% as a senior. Finally, his 44.9% stroke on pull-up midrange jumpers began to translate. Though he's still a low-volume shooter, it's encouraging to see his numbers tick up; it's crucial for a player at his size. Advertisement At the draft combine, Nembhard measured in at 5-11 without shoes and only 176 pounds. History isn't kind to guards that small. Then again: After going undrafted in 2015, McConnell is in the 10th season of his career and playing pivotal playoff minutes. Like McConnell, Nembhard might be small, but he has the brain and the floor game to carve out a backup PG role, especially if his shooting proves real. If a team is looking for a bankable NBA skill, Brea has it with his shooting. He drilled 43.4% of his 3s over five college seasons, and it wasn't just spot-ups. Brea moves like a pro relocating, sprinting off screens, setting his feet with perfect balance, and firing with confidence. He's got deep range, a lightning-quick release, and enough size at 6-6 to get his shot off against contests. That gives him a real floor as a rotation player in today's spacing-obsessed league. Advertisement Then you factor in his passing ability. By no means is Brea a primary creator, but he keeps the ball moving and shows connecting passing skill off the dribble. The swing skill is his defense: If he can get stronger and improve his lateral quickness enough to hold his own on defense, he becomes a playoff guy in the mold of a Sam Hauser type. Martin is a violent athlete with a chiseled frame, explosive leaping ability, and a level of physicality that overwhelms softer players. These NBA playoffs showed how much physicality matters, but also how much speed does too. And Martin never seems to run out of energy despite defending full court, crashing the glass, and flying around as a defender and cutter. Advertisement At only 6-2, he's not a primary playmaker and his shot is streaky at 36.4% on 3s across five college seasons, so he doesn't fit neatly into a traditional backcourt role. But in the right system, Martin's blend of athleticism, toughness, and defensive impact could make him a playoff contributor who earns his way onto the floor. Lanier is a flamethrower. After four seasons at North Florida, he transferred to Tennessee and instantly became one of the most dangerous movement shooters in college basketball. He hit 39.5% of his 3s this season, and it wasn't just standstill looks. Lanier sprinted into shots off screens and attacked closeouts with side steps or rhythm pull-ups. He has deep range, lightning-quick mechanics, and the confidence to let it fly no matter the spot on the floor and no matter the defense. But despite the shot-making craft, Lanier has limitations that cap his stock. He's a small combo guard at 6-4, and only 13% of his shots came at the basket, per Synergy. He's not a playmaker either, often misfiring when asked to create. But if a team needs a microwave shooter off the bench who can play off stars and space the floor, Lanier can help an offense tomorrow. Advertisement Sallis plays like a guy who just knows how to hoop. He is a slippery, poised scorer who scores from midrange with advanced body control and has a passing feel. That last point is important, since he measured at only 6-4 without shoes, so he might need to lean into some of his point skills at the next level. At his core, though, Sallis is a bucket-getter. He made 51 midrange pull-ups as a junior then 78 as a senior, hitting 51.2% of his 252 attempts. He's been very streaky from 3-point range, but his touch from midrange and from the line (near 80%) are positive indicators that he'll figure out his catch-and-shoot 3-point jumper. If the shot comes around, he could become a solid secondary creator who contributes on both ends. Yang has a chance to stick in the pros as a throwback big with a massive 7-1 frame. Coming from China, he plays with an old-school style with polished footwork, touch and craft around the basket, and some slick passing skills. Yang consistently makes quick reads out of the post and on handoffs, so he can do some of the things you'd see from an Alperen Şengün or Isaiah Hartenstein type of big. And much like them, he flashes a shooting touch that may or may not translate. Advertisement Defensively, he's a strong positional rebounder and space-eater in the paint who uses his size to wall off drivers and clean the glass. But Yang hasn't shown the foot speed to defend in space or comfortably switch, even against Chinese competition. If anything holds him back from carving out an NBA career, it'll be his defense. But Yang's offensive talent gives him a chance to be the best Chinese big man to play in the NBA since Yao Ming. And if his athleticism improves to the point he can survive on defense, then his offensive upside gives him the potential to be a major steal.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Finals: Thunder and Pacers are the modern blueprint of what winning looks like
The deeper we go into the NBA Playoffs, the more one truth gets hammered home: If you've got a guy on the floor who can't shoot or defend, he's getting exposed and you're probably getting sent home. But the 3-and-D archetype with the guy who just stands in the corner isn't quite enough anymore. All players on the floor must ideally be able to dribble and make quick decisions. That's why the Boston Celtics won the title last year. Sure, they had stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But they also surrounded them with well-rounded pieces. When Tatum and Brown were sharing the floor with Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford, everyone could shoot and make a read, and nobody was a defensive liability. Even with bench units, there was no obvious weak link. Advertisement The same blueprint is playing out this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers facing off in the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and at least one of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, or Cason Wallace have shared the floor for 88% of Oklahoma City's playoff minutes. In 176 of those minutes, at least four of them have played together and, during that time, the Thunder have outscored opponents by a staggering 18.1 points per 100 possessions. Every single one of those guys can defend, process the game fast, and create offense either for themselves or someone else. SGA is the hub, but OKC's success hinges on the fact that nobody else gums up the system. Dort cuts. Wallace connects. Caruso makes instant reads. There's no ball-stopper, no spacer who can't dribble, no defender the Thunder can't trust to ferociously execute a game plan. Even OKC's bigs fit the mold: Chet Holmgren can shoot, pass, and handle. And while Isaiah Hartenstein doesn't shoot 3s, he plays with elite feel as a finisher and facilitator. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration) Indiana functions similarly. Tyrese Haliburton is their engine, but the pieces around him — Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner — are all skilled enough to play with tempo, precision, and relentless energy. And they all shoot the hell out of the ball: Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, and Turner are all shooting over 40% from 3 on over three attempts per game in the playoffs. Everyone can eat in this system. Nesmith of course had his all-time hot streak to fuel a historic Pacers comeback in Game 1. Siakam went off for 39 in Game 2 and 31 in Game 6 against the Knicks, winning himself East Finals MVP. Nembhard has had separate games with over 20 points and over 10 assists while playing lockdown defense. Even with bench units featuring T.J. McConnell and Thomas Bryant, the Pacers can go on a scoring flurry like they did to close out New York. Advertisement Their historic comebacks break the mold too. The Pacers don't turn to clear-out, hero-ball isolations. They stick with their flow: pace, movement, and speed. In the moments that most teams tighten up, Indiana just keeps running its offense. The throughline with both teams is clear: there are no dead zones, everyone is a threat. It's a roster with continuity and a system built on interchangeable skill sets, rapid processing, and nonstop effort. And two excellent coaching staffs led by Mark Daigneault and Rick Carlisle who constructed these systems and devised game plans to unleash their players' strengths. We've seen prototypes before, like the Beautiful Game Spurs, and the Warriors dynasty. But today's shift is a product of how the game has evolved. Pace is at an all-time high. So is spacing. A record-high 42.1% of shots were taken from 3 this season, and they were launched from farther than ever before: 26.2 feet on average above the break. Advertisement Screens are also being set farther from the hoop: the average on-ball screen came 25.7 feet from the rim, another all-time high. Defenses are switching more than ever: 24.6% of the time this year, up from just 7.7% a decade ago and 15.8% a half-decade ago. All of that means defenders have to cover more ground and do it faster than ever. Every offensive possession stretches the floor horizontally and vertically. On top of that, playoff officiating has made the game more physical than it's been in decades. Players have to be tough enough to absorb contact and relentless enough to fight through every screen, closeout, and rotation. That's part of why the Thunder and Pacers have made it this far. Both teams are deep with guys who meet those demands. Teams with shorter benches run out of answers fast. They either put a target on the floor or ask key players to dial it back to avoid fouling out. As always, when a blueprint starts working, everyone else tries to replicate it. But copying the trend and executing it are two very different things. And this year's playoff exits made that brutally clear. OKC is the model franchise. (AP Photo/Nate Billings) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The Knicks and Timberwolves both made the conference finals, but neither felt like they belonged by the end of it. New York has a ton of guys who can generate shots and offer lengthy defense. But it's hard to win when your two best players are the weakest links on defense. Karl-Anthony Towns is an aloof liability at every spot on the floor. And Jalen Brunson is both tiny and unaware with poor technique fighting through screens. Until one of them is replaced, it's hard to take the Knicks seriously as a team that'll still be playing in June. Advertisement Minnesota looked like a team from another era against OKC. Julius Randle is a ball-stopper and Anthony Edwards dazzled on-ball but disappeared off it. At just 6-foot-3, Edwards has to evolve through movement: cuts, catch-and-shoot 3s, relocations, connective passing. And Minnesota's offense must change to best promote the development of its 23-year-old star. Coaches can only do with what they have though. The Pacers and Thunder were built from the top down by their front offices to play this way with rosters that can go deep into the bench. But the lead tacticians do have a choice in the matter. Daigneault spent all season experimenting with lineup combinations, playing everyone on his roster, creating a culture where everyone contributes to the greater good. The system Carlisle installed naturally promotes these habits on top of continuing to go deeper into his rotation as the playoffs advanced. One of the challenges for teams looking to take the next step will be navigating the new collective bargaining agreement with rules that make it nearly impossible to have three stars on max contracts and survive with one-dimensional role players on minimum deals. The Heatles approach is no longer a realistic option. We've exited the superteam era. And given the way the best teams are playing and the way they're constructed, and given the restrictions of the new CBA, this likely isn't a temporary trend. It's more of a structural shift where the teams that last are built around four pillars: shooting ability, quick decision-making, offensive adaptability, and defensive versatility. That foundation is necessary to support at least one superstar, who also must embrace those qualities. Some teams like the Cavaliers need to add more toughness. Others need shooting, like the Magic and Pistons. And some teams like the Rockets also need a star. Advertisement Even veteran teams will start to feel the pressure. If OKC levels up again next year, Denver will have to ask hard questions. Nikola Jokić checks every box the Nuggets could possibly want in a star. But do they have enough shooting around him? And can Michael Porter Jr. thrive in this era with his limited creation and defensive shortcomings? Golden State went out and got Jimmy Butler to support Steph Curry, but that isn't enough when the roster is littered with players who can't shoot or playmake. Has the contention window already shut on the Warriors and they just don't know it? And in Los Angeles, Luka Dončić's slow-it-down style may not get him quite as far as it did in Dallas given the way the NBA is evolving. The Lakers may need to rethink what it looks like to build around Luka. And Luka needs to rethink how much of the ball he really needs to dominate. Maybe being a top-five player isn't enough in this era. Maybe you can't be the system, but you have to thrive within one. So here we are: Thunder vs. Pacers for all the marbles. Two small-market franchises, built from the ground up, now defining what winning looks like in the modern NBA. They didn't do it with an aging max-contract trio. They did it with deep and versatile rosters that can throw out lineup after lineup of five guys who can all shoot, dribble, guard, and make decisions in half a second. Advertisement And none of this works without stars who buy in. SGA did. Haliburton did. When your best players excel within the system, the ceiling gets higher. The Thunder and Pacers are not just the Finals teams; they're the blueprint.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pacers forward exits game after painful collision with Karl-Anthony Towns
The post Pacers forward exits game after painful collision with Karl-Anthony Towns appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers had an injury take place to start the fourth quarter of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Saturday night. The player who got hurt was forward Jarace Walker. Advertisement Less than 30 seconds into the final quarter, Walker contested a shot from Knicks star big man Karl-Anthony Towns inside the paint. Both players were midair as they fell down to the floor. While Towns got back up as he made the shot, Walker was unable to get up as he was in pain. Video showed he suffered an apparent leg injury as team officials took him to the locker room. He exited the contest after seven minutes of action, having two points and a rebound. How Pacers played vs. Knicks despite Jarace Walker's injury Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Despite Jarace Walker's injury, the Pacers took care of business as they beat the Knicks 125-108 to win the East Finals series. Advertisement The Pacers refused to lose on their homecourt, fending off the Knicks' advances. They grew their lead to double-digits after a 34-23 display in the third quarter, which proved to be too much for New York to overcome. As a result, Indiana returns to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Seven players scored in double-digits on Indiana's behalf in the win. Pascal Siakam won East Finals MVP as he finished with 31 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. He shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. Tyrese Haliburton came next with 21 points and 13 assists, Obi Toppin had 18 points and six rebounds, while Andrew Nembhard provided 14 points, eight assists and six steals. The Pacers will prepare for Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals. They face the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tyrese Haliburton hilariously thought he'd get East Finals MVP before Pascal Siakam's win
Tyrese Haliburton hilariously thought he'd get East Finals MVP before Pascal Siakam's win You could've forgiven the electric Tyrese Haliburton for thinking it was his "moment" in the aftermath of the Indiana Pacers clinching their first NBA Finals berth in a quarter-century. After all, Indiana's franchise talisman tore up the New York Knicks to the tune of a 21-point, 10.5-assist, 6-rebound, 2.5-steal average over six Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) games. Suffice it to say, Ben Stiller wasn't the only Knicks-adjacent person feeling Haliburton's wrath over the last couple of weeks. So, when it came time to announce East Finals MVP, Haliburton understandably thought he was about to take home some individual hardware. The awkward twist for Haliburton was that Pacers teammate Pascal Siakam won the honor instead by a single vote. Of course, Siakam was a deserved winner in his own right, as the power forward and 2019 NBA champion had three games of at least 30 points during the series. What's funny here is that you could hilariously see Haliburton positioning himself to take ECF MVP as TNT's Ernie Johnson started announcing the honor. You know what I'm talking about, where you start lightly pushing through the crowd, trying to minimize the time it takes for you to get to center stage. We've all done it. We've all seen it. Alas, while it wasn't meant to be for the Pacers' franchise player here, he did give us a brilliant (and awkward) moment of levity: If there's any consolation for Haliburton, he still has a tremendous opportunity to add an even bigger individual trophy to his collection. Given his skills as a player, Haliburton will undoubtedly be one of the top favorites to capture this year's NBA Finals MVP. However, that task will be easier said than done as his Pacers will probably have to topple the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder because the NBA typically does not give the Finals MVP to someone on the losing team. At any rate, it's something Haliburton can look forward to if he's brilliant in a potential Pacers' upset of the Thunder.
