Anticipation is high as the NBA Finals tip off Thursday night, with the Indiana Pacers set to face the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder, who finished the regular season with an impressive 68–14 record.
While the Thunder have continued their dominant run through the playoffs, the Pacers—who entered as the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference—have carved out a Cinderella story of their own. They've notched multiple comeback wins and dispatched all three of their postseason opponents in six games or fewer.
On Wednesday, ESPN released its full slate of Finals predictions, with 29 of 32 personalities picking the Thunder to win it all.
Notably absent from the list was legendary commentator Dick Vitale, but he still shared his take on social media—revealing who he believes will capture their first NBA title between the Thunder and Pacers.
"My VBDI says @okcthunder will win the 2025 @NBA championship in 6 games over @Pacers," Vitale posted.
While Vitale is beloved by fans, not everyone shared his outlook on the series. Some supporters believe Indiana could continue its run and pull off a stunning upset.
"I’m gonna go veteran coaching that wins this than the players. Go PACERS," a fan said.
"Sorry DickieV! Pacers in 6," another fan posted.
Someone else added, "Awesome I don’t even need to watch."
One more fan commented, "Interesting prediction... Thunder in 6 could be a solid call."
ESPN analyst Dick Vitale
ESPN analyst Dick Vitale
© Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
The odds are certainly stacked against Indiana, who are led by All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton and veteran forward Pascal Siakam.
According to ESPN BET, the Thunder enter the series as heavy favorites at minus-700, backed by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a deep, balanced roster.
Adding to the challenge for the Pacers, the Thunder won both regular-season matchups between the teams—both high-scoring affairs with each team eclipsing the 100-point mark.