Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Gilbert Arenas Slams The Indiana Pacers: 'Their Fanbase Think They're A Legit Championship Team'

Originally posted on Fadeaway World | By Siddhant Gupta | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 2:07 PM ET

Gilbert Arenas had some harsh criticism for the Indiana Pacers, even in light of their terrific run through the playoffs to reach the NBA Finals. While livestreaming Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Arenas slammed the franchise by saying:

"I think them [Pacers] being here does f**k them up, because I think the Indiana fan base actually think they're a legit championship team, and they're going to expect this from them."

"And I don't think that they know reality. The teams that are being built. The Dallas- building teams. The Los Angeles - building teams. The Boston - reloading. Like, the Giannis moving somewhere... Your team ain't built for that and it's putting pressure on this team to repeat and get back here and yeah..."

Arenas' statements were made early in the fourth quarter when the Pacers were still facing a 12-point deficit. What the former NBA player, and effectively everyone watching, weren't prepared for was what was to come next.

The Pacers led a miraculous comeback spurred by Obi Toppin and Myles Turner. When the team started cutting into the lead, bit by bit, the ECF MVP Pascal Siakam appeared, securing a key offensive rebound followed by a putback bucket.

To top it all off, Indiana's very own superstar, Tyrese Haliburton, swooped in on the last play of the game to drain a midrange buzzer-beater to break OKC's hearts to win the game with a 111-110 scoreline.

WHAT THE HALIBURTON AGAIN

TYRESE WINS GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS FOR THE PACERS pic.twitter.com/TLv6OtQyWV
— ESPN (@espn) June 6, 2025

Arenas mentions that the Pacers fans are putting pressure on the team, the weight of expectations eventually yielding failure. However, he may have failed to comprehend that this team doesn't manage pressure the same way.

Having become accustomed to playing in clutch situations, Indiana continues to shock the basketball world with their ludicrous fourth-quarter comebacks.

Gilbert Arenas Hilariously Switched Allegiances After Haliburton's Buzzer-Beater

Gilbert Arenas has been one of the most intriguing characters in this year's playoffs. After dismissing OKC's claim of being title-favorites, the former NBA player was representing the team's colors during Game 1.

However, this was also subject to change as the bandwagon shifted, quite seamlessly at that, after Tyrese Haliburton drained the shot to win the game.

Gil put the Pacers jersey over his Thunder jersey before the ball even went through the net

(@WatchPlayback, @GilsArenaShow) pic.twitter.com/dtGtqujRYL
— Underdog (@Underdog) June 6, 2025

Arenas happened to have the Pacers jersey ready to go at a moment's notice. However, switching allegiances under these circumstances may be understandable.

What Tyrese Haliburton is doing in this postseason is nothing short of spectacular. Since being named the most "overrated" player in an anonymous poll, the 25-year-old guard has been on a mission to prove a lot of people wrong, a warpath that has led him to the NBA Finals.

Having accumulated a lifetime's worth of highlights in a single postseason run, the Pacers guard is cementing his place as a superstar in the league.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: