The Indiana Pacers are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, but it’s not just their big win that has fans buzzing. After closing out the New York Knicks in Game 6 and securing their first Eastern Conference title in over two decades, Pascal Siakam was named ECF MVP, edging out Tyrese Haliburton by just one vote.
The decision sparked debate across the league, and now ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins has weighed in, explaining why Siakam deserved the honor.
Kendrick Perkins Backs Pascal Siakam for His ECF MVP Win
Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back when asked who deserved the MVP nod after the Pacers’ dominant series win over the Knicks. Despite Tyrese Haliburton’s popularity and playmaking brilliance, Perkins pointed to one thing: consistency. And for him, Pascal Siakam brought it every single night.
“I believe so,” Perkins said on a recent broadcast. “I tweeted it out before they announced it, that I thought that Pascal Siakam should have been the MVP. He was consistent throughout the Eastern Conference [Finals]. We saw that drop-off with Tyrese Haliburton from game to game, but it wasn’t that way with Pascal Siakam.”
Perkins further highlighted how Haliburton’s fourth-quarter takeover moments were flashy, but Siakam’s steady production is what kept Indiana in the fight through the first three quarters of each game. And that, Perkins argued, made all the difference.
“There is no fourth quarter without Pascal Siakam doing what he did in the first, second, and third quarter,” he said.
“[Siakam] was consistent throughout the ECF. We saw the dropoff with the [Tyrese] Haliburton… He was the guy. Well-deserved. I thought it was close, but I would’ve gave it to Pascal Siakam as well.”
Kendrick Perkins on the ECF MVP 🤔
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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 3, 2025
Perkins also noted how Siakam created mismatch problems for New York that they simply couldn’t solve. Whether it was bullying smaller defenders on the elbow or outrunning bigger ones like Karl-Anthony Towns in transition, Siakam always found a way to dominate.
“I think when they get down to the half course sets,” Perkins said. “He was the one that got them through, he was the mismatch that the Knicks couldn’t figure out. It couldn’t, it didn’t matter, if you put a smaller guy on them.
“He was taking them to that elbow mid-post area. If you put a bigger guy on him, he was out-sprinting Karl-Anthony Towns, getting out in transition on makes and misses. So he was the guy, well deserved. I thought it was close, but I would have given it to Pascal Siakam as well.”
Tyrese Haliburton Reacts Gracefully to Siakam’s MVP Win
The MVP race was tight, maybe too tight. According to NBA Communications, Siakam beat out Haliburton 5-4 in votes from selected media members. The two stars both showed out in Game 6 of the ECF, with Siakam leading all scorers with 31 points, while Haliburton delivered a double-double with 21 points and 13 assists.
Throughout the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Haliburton averaged 18.8 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.7 rebounds across 16 games. Siakam, meanwhile, posted 21.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the same stretch.
After the final buzzer in Game 6, a viral clip showed Haliburton looking surprised when Siakam’s name was announced for the MVP. He expected the honor, but he didn’t sulk. Instead, he clapped for his teammate with a smile.
Behind the scenes, there’s clearly no bad blood. In fact, Haliburton has been one of Siakam’s biggest supporters since the day the Pacers traded for him.
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“When we brought him here, we had a vision,” Haliburton said. “We envisioned doing something like this, doing something special. … He’s been like a big brother for me, someone I can really trust, somebody that I can really lean on and talk to.”
With the Eastern Conference crown secured, Indiana now turns its attention to the biggest stage. The Pacers will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, aiming to capture the franchise’s first-ever championship. And whether the MVP vote went to Siakam or Haliburton, one thing is clear: this Pacers team is rolling, and they’ve got two legit stars leading the way.
