NBA Finals Game 7 Twist: Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle’s Cryptic Reaction to Leaked Thunder Championship Bus Video Sparks Speculation

If the Indiana Pacers needed a shot of adrenaline heading into Game 7, Sunday’s unexpected reveal surely provided it. Just hours before the tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in this epic NBA Finals showdown, a video made the rounds showing Thunder-branded buses emblazoned with “2025 Champions” — prepped and ready for a victory parade that hasn’t yet been earned. It’s the kind of premature celebration that immediately grabbed Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle’s attention, offering a juicy distraction and maybe a little extra fuel for his team’s fire. The irony? No one’s crowned yet — and history’s shown that counting chickens before they hatch is a gamble that’s bitten teams before. Carlisle’s response? Sharp, pointed, and all in on turning that overconfidence into motivation. This isn’t just a game; it’s a high-stakes battle where pride and preparation intersect on the court. The Thunder are the favorites, sure — but as we’ve seen in past NBA Finals, those parade plans don’t always result in trophies. Game 7 promises drama, passion, and a fight to avoid the fate of the Mavericks’ infamous 2006 stumble. It’s Dallas vs. Miami all over again, but this time, the scene’s set in thunderous Oklahoma City — and the Pacers aren’t about to let a bus full of assumptions dictate the story. LEARN MOREIf the Indiana Pacers need any more motivation for Game 7, here it is.Advertisement”I just saw a video that’s probably going to go viral of some buses — open-top buses — presumably for their parade that are already painted for them as champions.

“I just saw a video that’s probably going to go viral of some buses — open-top buses — presumably for their parade that are already painted for them as champions.

There’s a decent possibility this is standard protocol. There’s certainly a chance the Pacers have their own buses ready to roll in preparation for a potential parade in Indianapolis. But they haven’t leaked. And Carlisle seized on the opportunity ahead of Game 7.There’s only one problem, of course. As of the time of this video, an NBA champion had yet to be crowned.

The heavily favored Thunder will look to avoid the same fate as those Mavericks in the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 2016 on Sunday.AdvertisementThere was just one problem. The Mavericks never had that parade. The Heat won four straight games for a 4-2 series win and the franchise’s first NBA title.