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Kendrick Perkins' Awful Pacers Prediction Resurfaces After They Make the Finals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gautam Varier | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 1:01 PM ET

The Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday to advance to the NBA Finals. After a back-and-forth first half, the Pacers seized control in the third quarter and ended up cruising to victory.

The Pacers had been eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals last year, when the Boston Celtics swept them out of the playoffs. They have managed to go at least a step further this time around and are now appearing in their first NBA Finals in 25 years.

It didn't look like this Pacers team would even get back to the Conference finals, though, with how they started this season.

The Pacers got off to a slow start, and their postseason run was starting to be viewed as a bit of a fluke. ESPN's Kendrick Perkins certainly didn't think they would come close to replicating that feat, as his awful prediction about them from the start of the season has resurfaced.

When the Pacers had a 1-3 record, Perkins predicted on "NBA Countdown" on Oct. 30, 2024, that they wouldn't even make the playoffs.

"I strongly believe the Pacers are going to fall off like no limit," Perkins said on NBA Countdown, via Fullcourtpass. "They're not going to make the playoffs this season. I'm not high on them."

Before the season started Kendrick Perkins predicted the Indiana Pacers would NOT make the Playoffs

“I’m watching a guy like Tyrese Haliburton coming into the season and I don’t know if he’s necessarily been putting in the work he needs to put in.” pic.twitter.com/159nyrFZ0N
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 1, 2025

Safe to say, that wasn't a great prediction. The Pacers actually continued to struggle after this and were 9-14 after 23 games. They managed to rebound from that slow start and finished with a 50-32 record.

Perkins also doubted Tyrese Haliburton in that clip, and he has been one of the very best players in these playoffs. The former NBA big man certainly got it all wrong with these takes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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