NBA FINALS: THUNDER VS. PACERS

June 21, 2025

Obi Toppin

Indiana Pacers

Practice Day

Q. Describe this wild ride of this team in the playoffs that took you all the way to Game 7 and the feelings that go with it?

OBI TOPPIN: We feel good but we have one more game left, last game of the season. We've just got to go in here and get the job done.

Q. Game 7, you mentioned it, you feel lucky, not many players get this opportunity but how do you manage the anxiety that might go with it?

OBI TOPPIN: I don't think it's anxiety. Excitement more than anxiety. We can't wait to get to this game tomorrow. Like grow up our whole lives wanting to play in a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. So, it's going to be fun tomorrow.

Q. The two most exciting words in basketball, Game 7, what has to happen tomorrow for you guys?

OBI TOPPIN: I don't know, we just got to go out here tomorrow, get the job done. We've worked really hard to allow us to be in this position, so just got to go out there and get the job done tomorrow?

Q. What will it take tomorrow to get this last win, and how do you expect this matchup in the last game to be? How is it going to be?

OBI TOPPIN: It's going to be two teams, two great teams playing really hard to get a win. Like I said, it's been a while since both teams got a championship. So for us to play against each other in a Game 7, it's going to be good basketball.

Q. How helpful is it to have already had an elimination game win under your belt?

OBI TOPPIN: That game, last game, we didn't want them celebrating on our court, so we understood the assignment and we understand we had to be dogs and get the job done, and now it's on to Game 7. We have to do the same thing we did in Game 6 and get that job done.

Q. Now they have that mentality and they don't want you celebrating in this building. Are you expecting them to bring more than they typically would?

OBI TOPPIN: For sure, they are in their building and they are going to have their crowd's energy. We want to celebrate on their floor. We want to be the guys to celebrate on their floor.

We have to go in there with the same mentality that we had with Game 6 and get the job done.

Q. Do you have a favorite Game 7 memory?

OBI TOPPIN: 2016, that was Kyrie's step-back for the win. That was probably one for sure.

Q. You’re sitting here at 3-3. The point differential is seven and it's been ultra-competitive. What kind of respect do you have for them and this series, knowing it's going to go down as one of the best series ever?

OBI TOPPIN: They are a great team. We're a great team. It's two young teams. I feel like we're kind of showing the world, it's like different basketball now. It's about two teams just going out there and playing extremely hard and everybody, including the guys on the bench, coming in here and making an impact.