The NBA Finals were one for the Ages

By Pat Freeman, The Mighty O’Ba

The 2024-2025 finals could go down as one of the most competitive series in recent history. Finally, two capable smaller market franchises produced a classic in athletic competition. The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder put forth one of the great est championship series that I have seen in an exceptionally long time. The only regret that I had with the series is the injury to Tyrese Halliburton, which was a major rea son that the Pacers were eventually defeated.

Most teams survive losing a player but not your leader and best player, as the Pacers endured. The many obstacles that franchises go through during a long NBA season take such a toll on a profes sional player’s body. My question is why was he not shut down prior to tearing his Achilles ten don? Each time an athlete complains of some form of calf strain and keeps playing, we see an eventual tear. It is obvious that the competitor in Halli burton wants to compete, but you cannot tell if it was his fault.

The ultimate job of an organization is to protect players from their own decisions, which in this case will not only affect the team this year, but also next year. The Pacer organization must accept full blame for this injury, regardless of the desire of Halliburton wanting to compete. I cannot name a sport that an athlete is not going to compete in regardless of injury. This unfortunate injury rests solely on the organization not stepping in to protect the player from himself.

You must congratulate the Oklahoma City Thun der who have proven they are one of the top organi zations in sports and are now NBA champions.