The NBA Finals are well underway between the favorites, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the heavy underdogs, the Indiana Pacers. Most people expected the Thunder to be at this stage. But only a handful of people saw the Pacers reaching the NBA Finals.

The Pacers had another magical run, beating the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. Tyrese Haliburton has been the driving force behind their success, serving as the team’s most dynamic player. Playmaking is his biggest strength, but Haliburton has become a clutch maestro in the 2025 Playoffs.

Even the harshest critics have to admit the Pacers have already proven them wrong. While he is not a harsh analyst, NBA legend Dwyane Wade got honest about doubting Indiana’s chances in the Finals. This came when the Pacers felt they did not play their best game.

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Picking the Thunder as favorites is understandable. In the 2024-25 regular season, the Thunder won 68 games. Getting that kind of tally is no joke, and they managed to keep that momentum in the 2025 Playoffs.

They stumbled against the Denver Nuggets, as Nikola Jokic and his team forced the Thunder to go all seven games. Despite that stumble, the Thunder picked themselves back up and dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games.

With that momentum, people like Wade tapped the Thunder as favorites. No one can deny the Thunder’s confidence ahead of the Finals. However, people should be aware of the Pacers’ ability to pull off the impossible by now. That was why Wade was apologetic because he should have seen the Game 1 win coming.

“You gotta go do it. Everybody can talk about it, you could start it, you have to finish it, and you gotta do it, man. What we just watched is what you love about the game. Nobody gave them a chance, bro,” Wade said on his Time Out show.

“I said it here, this game is probably over, I got cake in my face too. I felt like Indiana was still in position when everyone was going crazy over OKC’s defense. They were still within striking distance… They put pie all over our faces… I’m even more excited about the NBA Finals now.”

“I love that we got a chance to jump on… To be able to jump on here, watch the game together. Talk it out, be wrong, be right, that’s what it’s all about… We’re fans of the game of basketball.”

For almost every series they played in the 2025 Playoffs, the Pacers have been underdogs. It is annoying to face constant doubt, but the Pacers have thrived under the pressure. They know that the doubt allows them to prove everyone wrong.

After calls of him being the most overrated player in the league, Haliburton has kept turning it up a notch. That did not sit well with Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who defended his player. However, it has fueled Haliburton and the team.

Ahead of the NBA Finals, the Thunder were the clear favorites. That helps the Pacers because they want to silence the doubters and prove their worth. They want to have this chance because they feel they could be the Thunder’s kryptonite.