OSHKOSH, Wis. (WBAY) - The NBA Finals begin Thursday night on WBAY TV-2, where Oshkosh North alumnus Tyrese Haliburton will lead his Indiana Pacers into a battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As the former Spartan continues to chase his dreams of winning an NBA Championship, a pizza pub in Oshkosh is inviting the community to a finals watch party.
Tim Murray, the owner of Players Pizza & Pub, says he’s been looking forward to seeing Tyrese and the Pacers play for an NBA Championship.
Tyrese is a Wisconsin state champion, an Olympic gold medalist, but many believe an NBA Finals victory could be his most impressive championship of all.
Although Tyrese’s success against the Milwaukee Bucks may still leave a bad taste in some fans’ mouths, Murray feels the hometown crowd can set those feelings aside to root for the kid who used to call Oshkosh home.
“Saw somebody say something that he didn’t like the state of Wisconsin anymore, he thought they were against him because of the Giannis stuff and things like that. I think that’s all showmanship that’s been going on. We don’t hold him to that; he’s our MVP, and we’re going to hold him to that. We like Giannis still, but we love Tyrese,” says Murray.
If the Pacers come out on top in this series, Haliburton would be the first northeast Wisconsin native to ever be part of an NBA Championship-winning team.
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