The NBA world received a pleasant surprise Monday when news broke that ESPN and ABC planned to broadcast the starting lineup introductions ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, who first reported the news, said Monday's Game 5 marked the first time the league has broadcasted starting introductions since 2013.
Shortly before tipoff, the public address announcer at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City breezed through the Pacers' starting five before he got to the moment the home fans were waiting forβbringing out the Thunder.
A hype video played, the Thunder mascotβRumble the Bisonβwaved a huge flag to pump up the crowd and massive cheers roared as Oklahoma City's starting five was announced. And whether you were inside the arena or not, you could feel the buzz:
The broadcast angle of the Thunder's intros π
πΊ #NBAFinals Game 5 LIVE on ABC pic.twitter.com/uiu9ZoatZS
β SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 17, 2025
And the basketball world widely applauded the league and ABC/ESPN for putting the player intros back on the NBA Finals broadcast:
adding the intros is really, really cool. shoutout to peer pressure, good work everyone
β Molly Morrison (@mollyhannahm) June 17, 2025
After these player intros tonight I expect universal praise and love of the NBA tomorrow morning!
β Rod (@rodimusprime) June 17, 2025
adding these playoff intros is brilliant @PatBevPod
β Patrick Beverley (@patbev21) June 17, 2025
player intros significantly better than ads and 10 second intervals of nba countdown
β SJ (@SJBasketball8) June 17, 2025
Not enough disdain for the opposition during these intros. Pacers by 5??
β Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) June 17, 2025
We getting player intros in the finals again pic.twitter.com/VtO1fRPRRv
β Β²Β³π»ππ±ππππππππππβοΈππ (@BronGotGame) June 17, 2025
Starting lineup intros on broadcast need to be a staple
β Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman) June 17, 2025
Crazy it took NBA Twitter bullying them but the player intros are so awesome man
β Aligned RB (@RyB_311) June 17, 2025
The move to broadcast player introductions comes after the league was criticized for the Finals not feeling like a big enough event. Earlier in the series, fans pointed to clumsy on-court graphics that cheapened the look of the broadcast, rather than heightening it.
Given the reaction the player introductions got on Monday night, it feels as though the league succeeded in making the gameβs broadcast live up to its importance.
More NBA Finals on Sports Illustrated