Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs. New York Knicks (Game 6) | May 31, 2025

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs. New York Knicks (Game 6) | May 31, 2025

A couple of thoughts. First, um, very difficult series. Um, you know, game one, what happened in game one was was very fluky and it it put us in position to lead the series at the beginning. That was a real key to it. Um, and this group has been special, pulling off some very special things. And so, uh, we, uh, we don’t take it for granted at all. Um, the Knicks were an an unreal opponent. Um, tough- minded, always coming at you after the game. They showed great class with, you know, every all the interactions that I had with all those guys. Um, I mentioned the job that Tibs has done there. you know, he’s just he’s he’s turned the culture completely flipped from what it was. And so, uh, you know, to be able to to win the series, um, the way we did today at home in front of our fans is is huge. You never want to go back on the road in game seven. And so, um, you know, we’re grateful. We’re grateful for a lot of things. Today, um, our guys just decided that we it was going to be our kind of game. It was going to be a fast game and we kept speed in the game and they kept coming and uh you know we get up 15 and then then all of a sudden there’s a turnover, a turned ankle and then it’s nine, you know, and it was just back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. But two resilient teams and and we were able to be resilient once again tonight. So once again, very very grateful. Um, congratulations to Pascal. So deserving. Um, guy’s been a rock of consistency all year and um, a lot of guys contributed to this game. You know, Thomas Bryant, you talk about a guy that has a great spirit and stays ready. I mean, uh, his threes and his block shots and his rebounds and his running, you know, was all it was all pivotal stuff. So anyway, questions. Rick, how did you find yourself feeling or find the balance of emotions and when the final buzzer sounds between this being a big deal accomplishment, happiness, and knowing you guys still have a final series ahead of you? Well, it’s this is the sixth time that I’ve been to an NBA finals, three as a player, one as an assistant coach, second time as a head coach. Um, this is no time to be popping champagne. Um and you know when you when you get to this point of the season, you know, it’s two teams and it’s it’s one it’s one goal and so um you know it’s it becomes an all or nothing thing and uh we understand the magnitude of the opponent. Um Oklahoma City has been dominant all year long with capital letters in the word dominant. Um, defensively they’re, you know, historically great. Um, and they got all kinds of guys that can score. It’s two teams that are that have similar structures, you know, slightly different styles, but Oklahoma’s playing faster this year. And so, um, I think it’s has the makings of a great series. It’s to me it’s from a coaching perspective, it’s it’s two teams that are fun to watch and fun to watch compete. So, you know, we’re looking forward to the challenge and they have the MVP and so that’s always that’s always a you know, that’s always an important thing. You talked about keeping uh speed and pace in the game. Obviously, the big way you did that is creating a bunch of turnovers, I think 18, and you turned those into 34, I guess. Um, you know, just considering the total arc of this rebuilding project, what all you had to do to get the defense to be where it is. um I guess how sort of I don’t know if it’s rewarding or or what even to say about it that but it’s the defense that drives to train in this one and gets you put you guys in position to play the way you want to play. Yeah, I mean we just can’t celebrate too much. It’s you know you ask the question like we’ve accomplished something and getting to the NBA finals is an accomplishment but if you start looking at it that way you’ll go you’ll go into it with the wrong mindset. Um, our defense is something we’ve been working on steadfastly for over a year and a half. I mean, really, um, the year started last year with really a different set of rules. Um, we were playing small and even faster. Um, it wasn’t a team that that had great defenders, but we’ve gotten better defenders. Uh, we’ve gotten bigger. We got Pascal and um the guys co-signed on the importance of defense and everybody has participated in the growth and you know Oklahoma will will present some very tough challenges defensively for us. Drew had six of those steals. It seems like he flipped over Brunson pretty early. What did you what made you decide to go with that match up or just what did you like what you got from him all around today but especially as far as creating turnover? I I just had a strong belief that he was going to have a big game today or tonight. It feels like a day. I don’t know why, but it’s almost midnight. Um, and the other thing is getting getting him uh on Brunson created a natural cross match to keep OG off of him. And OG is, you know, he’s like the silent killer on their team. I mean, he is a he’s very hard to score on. Um he’s a guy that doesn’t get enough credit as a scorer and you know after timeouts they were going to him almost every time. He was scoring almost every time and defensively he’s he’s a beast and so you know Drew Drew really took the challenge. Aaron had fouls really from the beginning of the game and when he got his first made the switch um a natural a naturally easy decision. Uh what do you know about Jarus Walker at this point? I just saw him on uh it’s an ankle. It’s um he’s on crutches, so you know, we’ll we’ll see. He’s young. That’s good. Um and I did not see a replay of the play, so I don’t know. I don’t know how much how far turned over, how much weight, but when a guy goes down and stays down like that, you know, it’s you’re always holding your breath. Hey Rick. Um been around you guys now since the start of the Cleveland series and I don’t recall you addressing this. Um but you guys were 10 and 15 in December and now you’re here and I know you don’t want to talk about this as an accomplishment yet because you have more work to do. But when did you start to realize that this was possible? Well, we were 10 and 15 and Nemhard missed 15 games and we were five and 10 in those games. And so you saw the impact of Nemhard tonight. And so we didn’t have Nemard, we didn’t have Nith, we lost Shepard for a good stretch there. And there were some games where we were starting two-way players. Um Quinton Jackson got some starts. Um actually played very well for us. Um, Enrique Freeman started a couple g one or two games. Um, Johnny Fury was in the rotation and Fury is going to be a good rotation player for for the Pacers, but these guys are very young. And so, you know, we’re we’re a team that is an ecosystem. You know, we’re very dependent on the the collective ingredients for the whole team to function at its best. And you know, when we’re without guys that don’t appear to be stars, but they’re important to in support roles for the stars, you know, then you struggle. And then we had a B schedule because of that Paris trip. You know, we had all the tough games early, excuse me, we had compressed schedule and it was a confluence of difficult forces. Is there a water, Mike? water. What else? Yeah, Rick, when you look at what Thomas Bryant did tonight, does that sort of typify I mean, he was, you know, he came in because Bradley was hurt, I assume. Um, but does that sort of typify what this team has become about? It does. And look, Thomas has an indomitable spirit as a person and a player. Even when he’s not in the rotation, he’s over there in a defensive stance on the sidelines. He is into it and he is ready. He is ready. And you know, he’s had a flare. He’s had a flare for these moments. He had a big He had a big game in game five of the of the Cleveland series at Cleveland. He had a steal for a dunk. He had a putback. He made a big three in the corner. The threes that he made today were enormously important and very timely. And so staying ready, Jarus Walker staying ready. I mean, he played he was one of the bright spots of the of the game five debacle. You know, he went in there, he was actually a plus in the game and hit a couple shots and did good things. And so, look, we were we played, I don’t know, 11 or 12 guys. And, you know, Bradley was he was available but was unable to really extend and run full court, full speed. And so, it just seemed to me that it just didn’t make sense. And so, you know, Thomas got right in there, got a block, and made some good things happen, hit some free throws, and, you know, he was key. What What do you remember about some of the conversations in 21 when you guys embarked on this rebuild? Um, and how surprised are you that it’s come come so fast? Well, if you have the right player to build around, it can happen much faster than you think. And so getting Tyrese um 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, but you know when we did the Brogden trade that brought Nesmith on board. Um you know Nemhard was was a developing player. Matathin shoots the ball well. You know Walker shoots the ball well. Um, and Shephard is a guy that is a great runner and a great shooter. So, and then look, the Seakkum trade um took things to another level and it took Pascal, you know, a couple weeks to get integrated because he, you know, they weren’t playing this fast in Toronto and but he did and he got integrated while Tyrese was coming back from the the hamstring last year and, you know, there were some clunking clunky moments and we you know, we were on the West Coast at the time and so but you know, we got had it together down the stretch and we won our last game of the season to avoid the playin and were able to go on a run and you know certainly we were we we were aided by the fact that there was some missing players with other teams but you still got to win the games. um you still got to go into Madison Square Garden and win game seven, you know, and and on the road and um those guys did that and and we had a humbling experience against Boston, but we learned some things and and those things have helped us this year. Ty, can you kind of take us through your emotions just as that final buzzer sounds and the ceremony’s about to start? Uh it’s a special feeling. Special feeling uh to do it with this group. You know, we got to the same spot last year, fell short. Um, and man, we just worked our tails off as a group to get back here. It’s been a uh, you know, a bumpy road with our start and uh, man, just really proud of the resilience of this group. We had so many different guys chip in. We’ve been through so many things this year. Um, and we just kept pushing and uh, like I said, I’m just just really proud of this group. I saw you and Pascal’s long embrace down there. What was that like for you two? Yeah, it’s special, man. And um obviously when we brought him here, you know, we had we vision, we envisioned, you know, doing something like this, doing something special. And uh you know, it’s just really special that he’s been here, he’s been like a big brother for me, somebody that I can really trust, somebody that I can really lean on to talk to. Um and just somebody who can always keep me steady. And uh you know, this is exciting time. Um you know, but we we we understand that there’s a long road ahead. You know, a lot more work to do. Um but yeah, it’s really special, you know, to do this and we just talked about, man, this is what we what we got together to do, you know, to do something special and um we’re part of it right now. We’re doing something special and like I said, we got four more to go. Ty, when you were traded here, Kevin Pritchard came out before your first game and said, “This is like us landing our Andrew Lucker, our Peyton Manning.” To have this team now in the NBA finals, what does it mean to go from that to this? Yeah, it’s uh it means a lot. It means a lot. you know, this is a franchise that took a chance on me. Um, saw something that other people didn’t see in me. Um, you know, sometimes I think they saw more in me than I saw in myself, you know. And, um, you know, Coach Carile, um, the whole staff, you know, KP, Chad, all those guys just stay on me all the time, you know, to keep getting better, to keep improving, um, you know, to keep pushing. And, uh, man, I wouldn’t be here without those guys. So, appreciate them taking a chance on me. I love being a pacer, you know, it’s, uh, there’s nothing like it. And uh this is a really really special feeling for me. Um and uh you know I I’ll take the time to reflect on it you know later cuz uh you know still a lot more work to do but you know this is really exciting. Ty I know you live in the moment and look ahead but history is important too and to do it almost 25 years to the day than the last time. Same team Reggie Jaylen in the building on the home court. How much special even more special does that make it? Yeah. Um, obviously Reggie in the building, uh, it is a really special thing. Um, when it happened 25 years ago, I was not even 6 months old. Uh, so, you know, I I think this is a really special time for our organization. Special time for our fans. You know, there’s a lot of fans who, you know, have never seen the success from this organization. You know, especially people around my age. You know, they weren’t alive for it. So, um, you know, it’s really special what we’re doing and, uh, we’re just trying to keep making this a special place, a place where people want to, you know, come and people, uh, want to watch and want to be a part of. And, um, you know, this is a really, really special group. And I’m really thankful that I’m doing it with these guys. I’m thankful that our front office believed in this group, uh, to keep us together, to not do a crazy roster turnover, um, to keep this group together and, you know, see something in ourselves that maybe quote unquote experts didn’t see. Um, so yeah, it’s it’s really special, but you know, we understand we got a a long road ahead. Um, but yeah, like I said, it’s just a special feeling. In tonight’s game, Obie Toppin off the bench and I had three blocks, 18 points. What’ you think of his play and how impactful were those big plays that he had? He had three blocks. Wow. Yeah. Trying to get like me. Uh, we always mess with him because, you know, he’s got all that athleticism, but just doesn’t use it on the defensive end sometimes. Uh but no, Obie was big for us off the bench. Um you know, obviously this series playing against this team, there’s probably a little bit more juice for him, considering this is where, you know, he came from. Um but man, he was special tonight. Just did all the little things that we need him to do, made play after play, especially down the stretch, cutting, rolling. Um you know, that’s why we brought him here. So, um really special and uh we understand, we’ve preached depth this whole year. You know, we keep talking about it and it’s not just some not just a word we use, you know, for fun. you know, this is uh this is our identity and this is who we are. And so, I thought we did a great job of utilizing that. We had many different people step up. Thought Jarus Walker was amazing. You know, a guy like that, you know, his minutes have come here and there in this series, he hasn’t really seen a ton of playing time. Um, and he came and was prepared to go and he had I thought he had big time minutes and Thomas Bryant, you know, he’s had a couple games where he, you know, couple DMPs came prepared and made some big big time shots and big time plays. Uh, so that’s just what’s important to us. We’ve been preaching, you know, how special we are as a group and how much depth matters and um we’re showing it. So, like I said, man, it’s just really special. I know we went to game six, but I guess can you talk about what it meant to be here in Gamebridge Fieldhouse with Pacers fans celebrating this moment and a moment in history for Pacers. Yeah. Uh I think as a group, you know, we really did want to get it done in the garden last game. Um but I thought we just didn’t come out and play the right way. Uh but I I looked at it as kind of like delayed gratification, you know. Um you look at it and understand we didn’t come to play in game five. I don’t know where Doyle is, but you know, we just didn’t play hard enough, you know, and that that happens. I know that was a question, but we just didn’t didn’t play hard enough. And I thought we did a great job responding. Thought we did a great job of controlling the margins and winning that battle. Um, so like I said, I’m just really proud of uh, you know, of this group and, uh, it is special to do it in front of our fans, in front of our family, um, and enjoy it with them and, uh, yeah, it’s definitely, you know, probably be a core memory in our lives. But I think there’s, uh, you know, a lot more work to do and, you know, let’s just keep creating memories. Kind of on that note, 10 steals, 18 turnovers, 34 points off turnovers. Just how important was the defense tonight? I guess what does it say I guess for just the progress you guys have made over the course of really the last year and a half to get to this point and it’s it’s defense that kind of gets you in there in the NBA finals. Yeah, I just think the buyin from our whole group has been huge. Um you know last year all that was being said was we couldn’t win because we don’t guard anybody. Um and all we try to do is outscore people and I think we’ve taken such a big step on the defensive end as a group. Um, you know, I think Andrew, Aaron, and Miles kind of lead that, you know, and me and Pete do, you know, are, you know, trying to follow their lead and get it going on that side of the ball. And then our bench guys just come in and bring more energy. So, uh, you know, I think what the step we’ve made on that side of the floor is is is why we’re here. And, um, you know, we got our work cut out for us, you know, playing against MVP, playing against one of the best offenses in the league, the best team in the league. Um, so we got to be prepared next series, but I just I I think our buyin as a group has been huge and um, you know, I’m just really proud of our group. Yeah. Ty, I wanted to ask like in the whirlwind of your first finals celebration, do you do you think at all about the Thunder? Are you too too much now? Like, oh my god, we made the finals. Yeah. Um, you know, I think human nature, uh, when you see them win, you know, it’s easy to watch them win and be like, “Okay, this is who we’re going to play next. You know, we got win one more game.” And I think that’s the human nature part of it. Um, but I think we talked as a group about just being as present as possible. Um, because this game very well could have went a different way and then, you know, all the pressure be on us to go win there in game seven. Just trying to be as present as possible as a group. And I think uh there was never a conversation about, oh, we play OKC next and what is it going to look like and blah blah blah. There was never that conversation, but I think human nature is going to creep in. You know, you’re going to think about it. Uh but thought we did a great job of living in the moment today, making the plays we needed to today. And um yeah, I’d be lying if I told you right now, my head’s not thinking about what’s next and you know, how we’re going to attack these guys and um you know, compete against these guys and what we’re getting into. Um but I just trying to be as present as possible. Uh because like I said, this is going to be something that I remember, you know, for the rest of my life. And so I want to be as present as I can and I will. Uh but um you know, of course I’m thinking about what’s next cuz uh you know, we got we got our work cut out for us. I want to think about kind of what came before really quick. Just you know, considering the rough start you guys had, your run to 500 in January even, just what did it take for this group to make a run to the finals? Um I think uh many things. I think um honesty with each other, you know, um having to look each other, look at ourselves in the mirror and see where we had to make a our biggest change. Um commitment to one another uh to do that. Um you know, we had, you know, two guys go down, two of our both our backup bigs go down early in the year with Torch Achilles. Um, you know, double A and Drew go through some early season injuries. We’re, you know, starting different guys. Many different guys are playing. Um, I thought we just did a great job of staying together as a group and not worrying about outside noise, you know, internally. Uh, we had expectations to be here and, uh, this isn’t a surprise to any of us, uh, because of what we what we wanted to do. And I think, you know, obviously there’s a turning point there in December or, January or whatever the case may be. Um, but I just thought we did a great job of, like I mentioned earlier, just being as present as possible, not living in the past, not worrying about what’s next, just worrying about what’s now. And thought we did a great job of that as a group. And, uh, you know, I think we all went through different things this year. Um, obviously me personally, I had my struggles. Many guys had their struggles. Um, but I think as a group, we just leaned on each other and that’s the most special part about this group. These are these guys in the locker room are you know going to be my brothers for life you know and uh you know what they’ve done for me I can’t even um you know really put into words because you know where I was earlier in the year was really really tough for me and uh you know I’m just really appreciative of those guys appreciative of of this moment and the fans and everybody sticking with me and my family and my loved ones and um yeah I think there’s a lot that went into it and it’s hard to really put into words like in this moment Um, but yeah, it’s a it’s a special time to be a part of this group. It’s a special time to be a Pacer fan and to be a part of this organization and uh we just have great people in that locker room from, you know, from our players to our coaches to our support staff uh to our ball boys to everybody, you know, to everybody that that is a part of this. So, um, you know, it’s a it’s a really special feeling and I could ramble and ramble and ramble and I probably am right now. Um, but I, you know, I just, I just think it’s a, I can’t put into words how special this group is and how much this means, uh, to us. So, like I said, we’re going to enjoy it for the night. Um, and then as a group come together and, you know, get get ready for for what’s in front of us. You know, because what’s in front of us is the first of four. And, you know, we understand we got a big challenge in front of us, a great team, and uh, you know, we’re going to be prepared, you know, and we’re going to be ready. So, I’m looking forward to it. How’s your Pacers career? It’s been such a roller coaster. What were you what were you thinking about as the final buzzer goes off in that moment? Um man, I was just so first of all I was just thankful to to Jehovah God man. He just um I just never stopped believing honestly. Um he’s opened up so many doors for me and um just not never stopped believing in my team either bro. I just think that at the end of the game to answer your question when the buzz was sounding I just just nothing but joy man just pure excitement just pure validation just all the years all the hate all the love everything in between bro it just made so much sense in that moment so I was just um man to be honest you I don’t know what I was thinking I was just just pure I don’t know exuberance and joy Tyrese gets traded here you sign an extension less than a year later when did you know that this group had this level um we were we were in Nashville I think it was two years ago just playing pickup and um just seeing everybody’s ability man cuz you know summer ball is so much different than obviously NBA hoops and whatnot but just seeing the the dedication bro like every first of all everybody showed up that was the biggest thing you know to get everybody on one page in offseason is so tough um but everybody showed up and then one thing I’ve always done bro I always come in on off days I’ve been doing that since my second third year like I’ll come in on an off day to get some shots or work on my body when I tell you like all our young guys like from two years on all the guys just got traded were in there every single time like that was a first for me you know and um that that’s kind of when I knew you know what to say that just just the work that we put in I think just during the celebration I think I saw you embrace with with Reggie and then talk with Nancy Leonard afterwards I’m sure there’s probably more of those Wayne basically but what did you I guess I guess who all did you get to talk to what were the sort of the brief conversations you got to have with people that have been pillars of this organization and what was that like to add to the emotion that’s already there I talked to so many people man I talked to everybody from the training staff down from the Simon family from yeah Nancy Leonard to Reggie to um I mean our massage therapists like our you know people in the media like it’s just um I just wanted to just just embrace everybody bro because again it’s so rare that you’re in an organization where there’s so it’s so consistent you know the trainers are the same strength coach the same you know um you know u front office is the same that doesn’t happen very often so they’ve all been a part of this journey as well so I just want to make sure I just embrace everybody that was there with I think uh Tom made made a point of saying that just being thankful for keeping this group together of of obviously had to rebuild the roster but over the past sort of two years there hasn’t been as dramatic of changes it’s sticking with this group I guess how important has that been just the cohesion that that you guys have stayed sort of steady that way I think it’s a new blueprint for the league man I just um you know I think the years of the super teams and you know stacking is just not it’s not as effective as it once was you know what I mean this NBA since I’ve been in the league you know this NBA is very trendy you know it just shifts but the new trend now is just kind of what we’re doing. OKC does the same thing. You know, young guys get out and run, defend, and um you know, use the power of friendship is how they how they call it. Uh the trade you guys made for Pascal last year, just what kind of impact has that had obviously on the court, but just for you guys locker room as a team overall? You brought in a champion, man. And you brought in someone that’s been there before and not just, you know, a fluke championship, you know, someone who he had to work his way up, you know, he’s a G-League champion, G-League Finals MVP and then obviously the Allstars and, you know, someone who’s also seen like the highs and lows and um to have that championship experience, you know, for me myself, you know, last year of course is my first time out the first round. There’s only so much I can tell guys, you know, when you have someone who’s actually been in them trenches, who’s actually felt what it feels like, you know, so underrated just the emotions this time of the year, you know what I mean? you don’t sleep, you know, you don’t, you know, you you lose hair. Like, it’s just it’s just what it is, man. You know, you if you can’t explain that if you’ve never been here before and just these past two years, again, very all worth it, you know, very validating on this stage, but, you know, it’s definitely just takes a toll on you. Miles, can you speak to the impact that Thomas Bryant had and and is that sort of symbolize what this team is about that guy comes in off the bench, hasn’t played, balls out? Of course, man. I mean, him, Tony Bradley, the same way. Someone who we picked him up right the end of the year, you know what I mean? Someone who been on what, six, seven NBA teams and was trying to find his way and he carved his niche out perfectly. But yeah, someone like Thomas, man, I’ve been playing against Thomas since high school, man. He’s always had that enthusiasm, that energy, and that skill. And he was able to put himself on his play tonight. He stayed ready. You know, he didn’t complain. He didn’t pout. If you watch any film, bro, he’s the first one up on the bench. First one just like, you know, gassing us up, talking to us, and getting us right. And, you know, me going down to foul trouble, he got his opportunity tonight. and you know he he didn’t look back and I’m sure it’s very validating for him you know you know going to going to IU of all places and know going to the NBA finals in front of that crowd you guys had seven in double figures uh Seakum had three blocks Drew had six assists or six steals kind of talk to me about just you guys had everyone doing everything how did this kind of win how does it define what this team is all about yeah that’s how we orchestrated this team you know again it’s not the flashy sexiest team we just we get results you know And I think that’s what um you’re able to see just throughout throughout the play throughout this playoff series, you know, and throughout honestly the playoffs in general. So yeah, you know, you may look up and guy only has like five or six points, but there’s so much insurmountable stuff that they’re doing that doesn’t show up in the in the stat sheet. You know what I’m saying? Like it’s just um a guy like Drew, I mean, you you can’t you can’t replace that type of effort. Aaron Nmith, man, he’s playing through a hurt a hurt ankle, you know what I mean? We’re all obviously we’re all playing through something, but you saw, you know, what he did. He was able to come back and make an impact, you know? So it just speaks to the heart of this group, man. you know, we you never know whose night it’s going to be. You know, it’s 1-5 and um again, just what makes it special. Miles over here, like an hour before Tyres’s debut for the Pacers, Kevin Pritchard met with the media and he compared getting Tyrese in that trade to, hey, we think we got our Andrew Luck or our Peyton Manning. Mhm. Before he played a game here. Yeah. How do you think he’s responded to that sort of pressure, expectations, and obviously leading you all to the NBA final? Yeah, man. I’m so proud of Tyrese, bro. For real, man. just y’all seen, you know, when it comes to being a superstar, bro, you got to take everything that comes with it, the highs and the lows, the good and the bad. And, you know, from how this season started, you know, to how he was getting trashed and everybody was basically trying to turn, you know, turn their heads to him, man. He, you know, he just kept his head down and kept working, man. You know, I think that, you know, even going to this playoffs, the whole overrated thing. I mean, obviously, we know that’s dead now. You know, you can’t there’s not much you can say now about that, but I’m just proud of the way he’s handled everything. you know, it’s just, you know, it’s it’s a lot of pressure, you know, being that main guy. You know, people don’t think about the off the court stuff, you know, that you have to handle as well, you know, being the man and just I think he’s done a great job, you know, it’s all happened so fast for him, but he’s done a great job of just um composing himself and um you know, showing up when it matters the most. So, yeah, you know, when you want to say that Andrew Luck or Pton Manning of the city, you know, it’s it makes sense. You know, he’s ahead of the snake. Pascal, when you were about to be traded last year, how much have you hoped it would be to here and for the reasons that this has now become? Um yeah, it was it was um it was yeah it was it was a tough moment I think obviously you know being being in Toronto um you you know I I grew up there you know I came there as a little kid um and and it was a huge part of who I was as a person um or who I am as a person and um being having to leave that place you know was hard and um and I think from the first time I had a conversation with Chad KP um coach, you know, this was a goal and and and I and I think that um just how amazing they’ve been, you know, throughout the whole process, just um supporting me um not that I needed, words of affirmation, like just being there for me, you know, um and and just um so much support from the organization, the fans. Um and I can never take it for granted. I’ll never I never do that. And um and so it’s it’s it’s amazing. It’s rewarding to be able to to be in this position and um you know it’s like what a full year. I mean half whatever you want to call it, but um to be able to get to this level and um having an opportunity to play, you know, for an NBA championship like that’s that’s that’s amazing. How long after you got here did it take you to identify that you guys had this level in you? Um, no. I think obviously just that run we had last year, you know, like um just to see the way they play the game and and that’s one of the things that I was super excited about, you know, coming here, just um the pace um it it just fits who I am as a person, like the way I play the game. Um we have a lot of people that um people look look down on and and um and just a lot of underdogs and and that’s my style, you know, like I I like I like that because that’s that’s been me. So, um it’s I knew we had something special. Obviously Tyrese, you know, like elevate our game. Um, put us in position to be successful and just the way he plays unselfish. Um, and and just the the the guys that we have on the in the locker room, man. And and it’s it’s it’s been a great journey so far and um we had a lot more work to do like um looking at some of those games and um just knowing how how better we can get. Um that’s that’s the most exciting part. You guys obviously caused 18 turnovers today, 10 steals, 34 points off turnovers. What’s uh just considering where this team was defensively, how far it had to come, how rewarding is it that basically defense is what gets you going in this game? Yeah. No, I mean that’s, you know, from the time I got here, you know, like that that was a big part of it, you know, we wanted to improve our defense and um we have dogs. We got guys that can guard. Like I mean Drew, it was incredible tonight, man. Just seeing how hard he worked um pressuring like a allNBA all like allar like all night just in his face. Um, and that’s not even the first time he’s done that. Like he this guy does that every every other night. Like I mean it’s crazy. Um, double A. Um, you know, I think you have me. I’m I’m I’m I’m out there trying to, you know, do my best. But, um, we just have a lot of guys that committed to to to that defense identity and and knowing that the things that’s going to take us to the next level is that, you know, like we can score. We know we can score. We’re going to make some shots. We’re going to make some shots some days. It is what it is. But um as long as we we are committed to um getting stops and um I think that’s that’s what’s going to take us to another level. You were just talking about how this this team plays and it style and everything. When did you get a sense of just how connected this group was as far as personally and like what what did that tell you about what it could be? Yeah. No, for sure. And I mean I think that’s one of the reason you know coming into the summer you know invited everyone at you know to my house. we got to hang out. Um, and you know, every single person on the team is just amazing person. Like, I mean, he’s just just a bunch of good guys. Um, and and when you have that, you know, and everyone is committed to to the work. Um, and and it’s there’s no selfishness and and it’s all about winning. Like, that’s that’s what you want to have. Um, and so I think just for me seeing that, I I I knew that, you know, like outside of the talent that we have, you know, I just know that how connected we are. And um and another thing, we’re just resilient. Like we we won’t stop. We won’t stop. And and when you know there’s bad games and whatever the case might be, like we still going to be here. We going to wake up every single day um you know, head up and we’re going to go to work and and that’s that’s that’s what you want from a team. And um that’s why I always ride for these guys. Pascal, as somebody who has uh been in this situation before getting to the finals, how much do you what’s the balance between sort of enjoying tonight versus looking ahead for the next? Yeah, I mean, I think you enjoy tonight and then, you know, after that, we got to look forward. We got we got a team out there that’s waiting for us. That’s serious, you know. Um, and they’re the best team in the NBA. So, I think that, you know, like that’s the challenge and and I was telling the guys, I mean, like for me, you know, I got there when I was in year three and I thought I would get back there a lot and it didn’t happen. So, um it’s it’s a hell of an opportunity and um you don’t know when you’re going to get it again. So, I think we we have to, you know, have a mindset of going out there and um and you know, at the end of the day, like just giving everything that we got and knowing that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And then just what did it mean to you to to win the conference uh finals MVP trophy, right? Um, no, it was cool. I mean, I think I didn’t know they had a trophy for that, but um I’m I’m excited. I mean, I’m I’m I’m I’m you know, I’m happy. I’m blessed, man. It’s been it’s been a crazy journey. A lot of ups and downs and um you know, I know I know, you know, I’m not I’m not the you know, the guy that everyone’s going to talk about a lot and and all that stuff and um man, I really don’t care about it. you know, I’m just I’m just a young kid from Cameroon that’s, you know, moved to the US when I was 18 years old and and gave everything to the game of basketball like and and I I just work every single day. Um I I don’t cheat the work like every no matter good games, bad games, I’m I’m in the gym. Um I care about the game of basketball and I and I want to be as great as I can and um and to me that’s all that matters, man. Like all all this stuff don’t don’t really matter and and um yeah, like this it’s cool. It’s pretty cool though. But um but the work continues. Pascal, when when you guys were 10 and 15 and then even still under 500 in January. Um how hard was it at the time to stick to stick to what you were doing and and I guess when did you really start to realize like, oh, we’re we’re actually very good? Yeah. Um no, I think obviously we started the year, you know, a little shaky and but you know, we had a lot of injuries. cuz we had guys that, you know, that was in and out of lineup and um it was it was tough just trying to, you know, figure out a rhythm of who we wanted to be as a team, you know, continuing from the success that we had the year before. Um and I just, you know, I just love the fact that, you know, everyone just stayed to the grind and we just kept working and and you know, trusting the process and the coaches did an amazing job, you know, preparing us for game and for games and and you know, we just started to slowly just build an identity. Um and you know once we put defense into you know who we were you know as a team I think it just took us slowly into another level and um and again like the fact that we connected and all together like that’s that’s what makes it special and um and like I said we don’t quit. Pascal Thomas played obviously off the bench pretty well tonight. You mentioned not cheating the grind. How much does he not cheat the grind especially when he doesn’t know what his minutes might look like night to night? Yeah. No, he was big man. Um it’s not easy. Like you you in there, you’re in the lineup and then you know all of a sudden you’re not in the lineup anymore. And um it can be tough for a player, but I just give him credit. Like he didn’t play those games. He was chairing like he was on the bench like the first to get up every time something is happening. Like he was encouraging everyone. Um and and I I told him that too. Like it’s like, you know, like the basketball gu is going to reward you, you know, when you you play basketball the right way and you have a, you know, the right spirit and and and and everything into the game. And um he g he had his chance tonight and man do you take advantage of it.

Rick Carlisle, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam speak to the media following Saturday’s 125-108 win over the Knicks to advance to the NBA Finals.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
11:40 – Tyrese Haliburton
22:57 – Myles Turner
29:46 – Pascal Siakam