Latest news with #LarryBirdTrophy
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Video of Pascal Siakam Emerges Before Game 2 of NBA Finals
New Video of Pascal Siakam Emerges Before Game 2 of NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers will play the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Advertisement Indiana holds a 1-0 series lead following a close 111-110 victory on Thursday. Forward Pascal Siakam played well against the Thunder's tough defense, posting a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The 31-year-old has averaged 20.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game throughout this postseason. He was awarded the Larry Bird Trophy as the Eastern Conference finals MVP for averaging 24.8 points per game against the New York Knicks. The thing is, Siakam isn't just talented on the basketball court; he also has some solid looking soccer skills. The NBA posted a new video to its X account on Saturday of the All-Star forward having fun during practice by kicking a basketball around like a soccer ball. Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) speaking after receiving the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images 'More of P's soccer skills on display today,' the league wrote in the post's caption. Advertisement They also shared a similar video from before Thursday's game, in which he is seen doing the same thing. 'P always brings the skills,' the NBA shared. 'Now he's bringing them back to the finals 🔥.' Siakam, a native of Cameroon, isn't the only NBA All-Star who likes to show off his soccer skills. Multiple videos of Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic kicking around a basketball have been posted to show his love of the sport. Siakam and the Pacers play the Thunder in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday on ABC. Related: Robert Griffin III Delivers Verdict on Tyrese Haliburton's 'Overrated' Tag After Game-Winner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Pascal Siakam shows off commendable football skills with his practice basketball ahead of Game 2 against OKC Thunder
Pascal Siakam. Image via:Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam brought a surprising twist to NBA Finals practice by channeling his inner soccer star. Ahead of Sunday's crucial Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Paycom Center, Siakam entertained fans and teammates by kicking a basketball around with impressive footwork, showing a lighter side of preparation in a high-stakes series. The Pacers currently lead the Finals 1-0 after a dramatic 111-110 victory that stunned the top-seeded Thunder in Game 1. Pascal Siakam didn't hide his astonishing basketball skills ahead of Game 2 Indiana Pacers Pascal Siakam. Image via: Getty Images Pascal Siakam is catching eyes with his playful pre-game antics. The NBA shared a video on X of the All-Star forward juggling a basketball with his feet like a soccer pro. 'More of P's soccer skills on display today,' the league wrote, adding to the fun with an earlier clip captioned, 'P always brings the skills. Now he's bringing them back to the finals 🔥.' Siakam has been deadly serious when it counts. He posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1, continuing a postseason that's seen him average 20.9 points and 6.0 boards. His performance in the Eastern Conference Finals earned him the Larry Bird Trophy after his stunning MVP-winning performance against the New York Knicks. Indiana's Game 1 win didn't fall right into their hands. The Thunder led most of the night before Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning shot with just 0.3 seconds left, completed a 35-25 fourth-quarter rally. The Thunder, previously 8-1 at home this postseason, lost only their second game at Paycom Center. Despite the win, both Haliburton and Siakam know the team has work to do. 'Hell yeah,' Haliburton told Siakam after the game. 'We did our job. Cmon baby. Let's get greedy.' Siakam replied, 'We didn't even play well.' Haliburton candidly acknowledged their flaws, 'We can't turn the ball over that much… But come May and June, it doesn't matter how you get them, just get them.' Now just three wins from their first-ever NBA title, the Pacers are chasing history, with Siakam chasing ring number two and Haliburton hungry for his first. As Game 2 looms, the Thunder, 10.5-point favorites per ESPN BET, are on high alert. As head coach Mark Daigneault warned, 'The better team is going to win. And we want to do everything we can to be that team.' Also Read: "It's always been us against everyone" -Indiana Pacers' star player gives cryptic reply to haters ahead of NBA Finals Now, all eyes are on Game 2. Will the Pacers pull off the same miracle as Game 1? Only time will tell, but certainly, the anticipation is sky high for the Pacers fans.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former player ‘wasn't as surprised' at Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's ECF MVP snub
The post Former player 'wasn't as surprised' at Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's ECF MVP snub appeared first on ClutchPoints. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton losing the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player award to Pascal Siakam continue to be a major talking point in the basketball realm. That topic has been a solid filler, as everyone waits for the 2025 NBA Finals to commence. Advertisement Many believe that Haliburton should have bagged the Larry Bird Trophy over Siakam. However, for former NBA guard Lou Williams, Siakam getting the trophy after the Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks was not as surprising as many seem to feel. 'This could have went either way. It was a 5-4 vote, right?' Williams, who won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award three times, said during an episode of the Run It Back show. Williams noted that Siakam was able to do his job against the Knicks and in the NBA Playoffs while still being able to 'fly under the radar ' because of the attention that Haliburton commanded. Through six games in the New York series, Siakam led the Pacers with an average of 24.8 points while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from behind the arc. Haliburton was not too shabby either, putting up 21.0 points per contest while leading Indiana in rebounds (6.0) and assists (10.5). Advertisement Williams, also, couldn't help but bring up the awkward moment during the awarding ceremony on the court following the Pacers' series-clinching 125-108 Game 6 win over the Knicks. 'So I wasn't as surprised when he [Siakam] got it [the ECF MVP award], but it was kind of funny to see Tyrese feel like that he was about to walk up there and receive that award, but it could have went either way. So, as funny as the internet made it, he was right,' said Williams. 'Like I'm one vote away. I was one vote away from getting this trophy, but it was also well-deserved for Pascal Siakam as well.' With the Knicks series all behind them now, Haliburton and the Pacers put their entire focus on their upcoming NBA Finals matchup versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. That series will start on Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where Game 2 will also be played on Sunday.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tyrese Haliburton Issues Strong Statement on Pascal Siakam After Conference Finals MVP Decision
Tyrese Haliburton Issues Strong Statement on Pascal Siakam After Conference Finals MVP Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers acquired Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors last season. The blockbuster trade paid off, as Indiana made the conference finals. Advertisement But after the Boston Celtics swept the Pacers by thoroughly outplaying them in the conference finals, some thought Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton couldn't coexist. However, the Pacers are in the NBA Finals this year after beating the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Siakam, who won the 2019 NBA championship with the Raptors, was named the Eastern Conference finals MVP after averaging 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks against the Knicks. Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images After the Pacers advanced to the NBA Finals and Siakam won the Larry Bird Trophy given to the Eastern Conference finals MVP, Haliburton spoke about how important Siakam is to him and the Indiana franchise. Advertisement 'When we brought him here, we had a vision,' Haliburton said, via The Athletic. "We envisioned doing something like this, doing something special. It's just really special that he's been here. "He's been like a big brother for me, someone I can really trust, somebody that I can really lean on and talk to, and just somebody who can always keep me steady.' The Pacers play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals. Siakam and Thunder guard Alex Caruso are the only players in this year's NBA Finals who have won a championship. Siakam averaged 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Pacers during the regular season. Advertisement The three-time All-Star is averaging 21.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the 2025 playoffs. Related: NBA Insider Provides Major Update on Myles Turner's Future With Pacers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Magic Johnson Has Clear Problem With Major NBA Award Announcement
Magic Johnson Has Clear Problem With Major NBA Award Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, forward Pascal Siakam was named the MVP of the series and claimed the Larry Bird Trophy. Advertisement Siakam beat Tyrese Haliburton by one vote to bag the ECF MVP trophy, 5-4. The one-time NBA champion finished the series averaging 24.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He was the Pacers' most consistent offensive force, putting up double-digits in all six games — including three 30-point outings. Haliburton, meanwhile, put up 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He tallied a monster triple-double (32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists with no turnovers) in Game 4, but he had an eight-point showing in Game 5. Unfortunately for the All-Star guard, he also became the butt of jokes after he was caught on camera seemingly expecting to earn the recognition during the award ceremony following their win. Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrate during a Blaze-Imagn Images Despite the trolling and criticism on Haliburton, though, he also has plenty of supporters who firmly believe he should have won MVP in the conference finals. One of them is NBA icon Magic Johnson. Advertisement While promoting the upcoming NBA Finals matchup between Haliburton and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Johnson said that he thought the Pacers playmaker deserved the honor. "You have the NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and in my opinion, the MVP throughout the entire Western Conference Playoffs on one side. On the other side we have - Tyrese Haliburton, who in my opinion, was Eastern Conference MVP throughout the entire Playoffs," Johnson said. "This will be an all-time great point guard matchup!" For what it's worth, Tyrese Haliburton has been nothing but supportive of Pascal Siakam after securing their NBA Finals berth. He joined the "MVP" cheers for his teammate following their series-clinching victory in Game 6, and he showered him with praise in his media interview. Advertisement 'When we brought him here, we had a vision,' Haliburton said of Siakam, per The Athletic. "We envisioned doing something like this, doing something special. It's just really special that he's been here. "He's been like a big brother for me, someone I can really trust, somebody that I can really lean on and talk to, and just somebody who can always keep me steady." With the 2025 NBA Finals set to kick off on Thursday, it will surely be interesting to see if Haliburton will be able to lead the Pacers to victory again. He surely has a bigger prize to look for in the NBA Finals MVP. Related: Caitlin Clark's Animated Behavior Following Pacers-Knicks This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
