Up against essentially all odds, the Indiana Pacers were able to push the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games during the 2025 NBA Finals. But the gut-wrenching way that the final contest played out was particularly brutal for members of the Pacers’ franchise, with “devastating” being the word that TJ McConnell used to describe the feeling.
Pacers Enjoyed A Magical Run To The NBA Finals
They were underdogs for their entire postseason run. But instead of an early round exit, the Pacers went 12-4 during the first three rounds of the playoffs. It earned them their first Finals appearance since 2000, though they would enter the last series of the season as heavy underdogs.
But Tyrese Haliburton and the rest of Indiana’s roster gave a valiant effort. After initially taking a 2-1 lead in the series, they pushed the Thunder to a title-deciding Game 7, and had some of the momentum after a big victory in Game 6.
WHAT THE HALIBURTON AGAIN 😱
TYRESE WINS GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS FOR THE PACERS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TLv6OtQyWV
— ESPN (@espn) June 6, 2025
Disaster struck early, however. With just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Haliburton made a move in an attempt to get around a defender, but instead fell to the floor. It was immediately clear that there was something severely wrong with the Pacers’ star player, and he would miss the rest of the contest with what was later diagnosed as a torn Achilles tendon.
Indiana managed to stay afloat in the first half, but eventually lost by 12. Instead of bringing the city and franchise their first championship since 1973 (as a part of the ABA), they watched Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
McConnell Calls The Experience “Devastating”
According to fan-favorite guard T.J. McConnell, the entire situation was heartbreaking. In a recent self-written story featured on The Player’s Tribune, the 32-year-old, 10 year NBA veteran described his emotions from earlier in the summer, and sent also thanked Pacers fans for their support.
the work is not done.
read the full story: https://t.co/b3raX6WSXN pic.twitter.com/jdBvVLHf5g
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 22, 2025
He called Game 7 “f*****g devastating,” saying that he is still somewhat in disbelief at everything that happened. He would go on to say that it was the best basketball season of his life, and even gave a sneak peek into his mentality for next year.
McConnell described how everyone said that the Pacers were “done” last postseason, time and time again. But the team proved that they weren’t done until the last possible game, and that they’ll carry that thought into the 2025-26 campaign.
Without Haliburton and with the departure of Myles Turner, the general thought around the NBA is that this version of the Pacers is also “done”.
McConnell doesn’t quite think so.
