Shaquille O'Neal Predicts Winner of NBA Finals

With the NBA Finals hours away from tipping off, the excitement around this year's matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers is only continuing to grow. 

Unlike in years past, when it has been a battle of major-market teams, this year's title series features a Thunder franchise that has not won an NBA title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008. The franchise's lone title came in 1979 when it was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. 

As for the Pacers, they have never won an NBA title, but do have three ABA championships to their name.

The teams also feature two of the best young guards in the league, with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the NBA MVP award, and Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton being named to two All-NBA teams in his first five seasons.

Ahead of Thursday's Game 1, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal appeared on Travis and Jason Kelce's "New Heights" podcast. Aside from talking about his playing days, Taylor Swift songs and Angel Reese's shoe deal, O'Neal also fired off an NBA Finals prediction. 

While expressing that Haliburton and the Pacers have consistently proven people wrong throughout the playoffs, O'Neal seems to think their string of stunning series wins is over. 

"I think it's gonna be very exciting," O'Neal said. "I think it'll either be a sweep or close series. Or OKC wins four to two."