Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle previewed the upcoming 2025 NBA Finals matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, emphasizing both the magnitude of the stage and the formidable opponent awaiting them.
“To me it’s the greatest stage in sports,” Carlisle said when asked to compare this Finals appearance to his 2011 title run with Dallas.
The Pacers advanced to the Finals for the first time since 2000 after eliminating the New York Knicks in six games.
Carlisle noted that the Thunder, who closed out Minnesota with a 124-94 win in Game 5, present a unique challenge on both ends.
“Their depth of great defenders is staggering, really,” he said, listing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, Alex Caruso, and several others as elite defenders.
He also praised Oklahoma City’s coaching under Mark Daigneault, calling it “a master class” in player development and defensive scheme implementation.
“Their schemes are super solid, and they’ve got changeups that they throw at you—with trapping and zone and all kinds of things,” Carlisle added.
When asked about Tyrese Haliburton, Carlisle emphasized the 25-year-old’s growth since arriving in Indiana.
“He came into this really leaning into the opportunity. New start. ‘I’m all in from day one,’” Carlisle said.
He reflected on past adversity the team endured, including stretches when they fell out of contention due to injuries.
“Ty understands how fragile this whole thing is,” Carlisle noted, recalling how short-handed rosters derailed prior seasons.
Carlisle also credited veteran forward Pascal Siakam for his maturity, citing his journey from the G-League to Finals MVP of the Eastern Conference.
“Both teams are relatively young,” Carlisle said, “but they both play a style that is so pure from a basketball standpoint.”
He pointed to the resilience of the Pacers roster, describing the group as players who “have found a way in many different kinds of situations.”
On Haliburton’s evolution as a leader, Carlisle said, “He has a demeanor, he has a coolness, an attitude. He’s unflappable.”
Carlisle also acknowledged Indiana’s efforts to build the right roster around Haliburton, prioritizing shooting, toughness, and depth.
“He knew the work he needed to do… I’m really proud of how he has just stayed the course through difficult times,” Carlisle said.
The coach praised team owner Herb Simon and the Pacers organization for flying out employees to Oklahoma City for the first two games.
“It just shows how much they care about the people in the organization,” he said, calling it “an awesome gesture.”
As Indiana prepares for Game 1 on Thursday night at Paycom Center, Carlisle stressed the importance of staying focused on the present.
“We’ve got to look at what’s happening right now and what’s happening next,” he said. “We have another daunting opponent.”
