Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) shoots against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the second half during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Julio Cortez-Pool Photo via Imagn Images Julio Cortez-Pool Photo via Imagn Images

Former Pacers Guard Takes Major Shot at 2025 Squad: ‘One of the Worst Finals Teams in NBA History’

Originally posted on Indianapolis Pacers on SI
By Alex Kirschenbaum | Last updated Aug 10, 2025 6:00 PM ET

A former All-Star and Indiana Pacers point guard (though not an All-Star on the Pacers, it should be noted) has come out swinging against his old team.

Since trading to acquire three-time All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam ahead of the 2023-24 season's trade deadline, Indiana has been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference — at least, when the playoffs start.

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Indiana has posted a just-okay regular season record of 97-67 across the these past two runs, but has made the Eastern Conference Finals for two consecutive years, and advanced all the way to the NBA Finals this past summer.

Tragically, two-time All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton, just 25, ruptured his Achilles tendon during Game 7 of the Pacers' Finals clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Indiana held serve without him for a quarter and change (the injury happened in the first frame of the game), but fell apart in the second half of the bout. It had been the team's first Finals appearance in 25 years.

Now, Indiana faces a short-term "gap year" retool, with shooting guard Andrew Nembhard being temporarily shifted to Haliburton's starting point guard role as he recuperates for all of 2025-26. The Pacers are currently without a starting-caliber replacement center Myles Turner, who departed as a free agent for the loathed Milwaukee Bucks.

A Pacer-Turned-Hater Lashes Out

On a recent episode of his very entertaining "Club 520" podcast, ex-Pacers point guard Jeff Teague has issued some harsh words for Indiana's Finals-bound roster in 2024-25. Teague, an Indianapolis native, played for his hometown team during the 2016-17 season.

Suiting up for all 82 contests (all starts) on the 42-40 Pacers, the 6-foot-1 Wake Forest product averaged 15.3 points on .442/.357/.867 shooting splits, 7.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals a night.

“One of the worst Finals teams in NBA history, bro." Teague said. "One of the worst rosters in NBA history, that's who made the Finals."

Granted, Indiana was technically an underdog in three of its four playoff series, and sported just two All-Stars in Haliburton and Siakam, neither of whom scores in bunches (at least, not at the level of, say, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). But the Pacers proved themselves to be quite deep and versatile, and employed a unique playing style that helped them overcome several starry challengers before ultimately falling to Oklahoma City.