Pascal Siakam inadvertently created a wild moment in the buildup to Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and he offered an explanation for it at Saturday’s NBA Finals media day.
Siakam looked downright possessed during one moment prior to the Pacers’ 108-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, In. on Thursday. The moment quickly went viral, but Siakam explained Saturday that he genuinely had no idea that it was even happening.
“We were praying, and I tried to close my eyes. I have this problem where I can’t really close my eyes,” Siakam explained. “Sometimes I think I’m closing my eyes, but they’re not really closed. Even just having conversations sometimes, I will look up and it feels like I’m thinking, and my eyes just go up.
“I’m glad people are enjoying it and having fun with it. It’s just literally, I was praying and I was trying to close my eyes, and I’m thinking in my head my eyes are closed, but clearly they weren’t closed. … I got to make sure I close my eyes. I got to do better.”
Pascal on his viral moment: "I have this problem where like I can't really close my eyes. Sometimes I be thinking that I'm closing my eyes, but they're not really closed. It feels like I'm thinking and my eyes just go up. I gotta do better" 😂 https://t.co/uXATteGUc7 pic.twitter.com/Wqd62iHHUR
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) June 21, 2025
Most would argue Siakam is doing just fine, as the moment went viral and people enjoyed it. Fortunately, the Pacers forward has a sense of humor about the whole thing.
Siakam went on to deliver a 16-point, 13 rebound performance to help the Pacers force Game 7. Indiana fans are not going to care how strange he looks if he keeps turning in performances like that.