After the New York Knicks eliminated them in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics won’t be in the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2021.
The Indiana Pacers are the Knicks’ next opponent, and their series begins on Wednesday. The two have now met each other twice in a row, although this is the first time they have done so in the Eastern Conference finals since 2000.
Former Celtics MVP candidate Isaiah Thomas chimed in on who he thought would represent the Eastern Conference in the 2025 NBA Finals. He also explained why he picked who he picked.
Thomas shared his pick for the Western Conference finals along with his prediction on his X account.
“I’m going for Knicks in that series cuz I rock with Brunson! I’m going with Minny in that series! Can’t root for OKC just cuz those are my Sonics!!! OKC has the best TEAM tho,” Thomas wrote with an eyeballs emoji at the end.
The reason Thomas likes Brunson is obvious. In addition to playing together for a short time during the 2021–22 season with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson is an All-Star who is significantly shorter than other players in the league, just like Thomas was.
Like Brunson has done with the Knicks this season, Thomas also guided the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2017 in his last season with the team. Brunson guided the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000, where they coincidentally faced the Pacers.
If the Knicks win, it will be the first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, where they coincidentally beat the Pacers to reach that stage.