Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton losing the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player award to Pascal Siakam continue to be a major talking point in the basketball realm. That topic has been a solid filler, as everyone waits for the 2025 NBA Finals to commence.

Many believe that Haliburton should have bagged the Larry Bird Trophy over Siakam. However, for former NBA guard Lou Williams, Siakam getting the trophy after the Pacers eliminated the New York Knicks was not as surprising as many seem to feel.

“This could have went either way. It was a 5-4 vote, right?” Williams, who won the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award three times, said during an episode of the Run It Back show.

Article Continues Below
More Indiana Pacers News
The 2025 NBA Draft class and NBA commissioner Adam Silver stand on stage before the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
Pacers make trade with Spurs moments before NBA DraftScotty White ·
3 Pacers 2025 free agency targets after Tyrese Haliburton injury, NBA Finals loss
3 Pacers 2025 free agency targets after Tyrese Haliburton injury, NBA Finals lossRishav Bhat ·
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives to the hoop past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the second quarter of game four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton gets visits from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Reggie Miller after Game 7Jedd Pagaduan ·
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
NBA drops mini movie of Thunder-Pacers 2025 NBA FinalsTomer Azarly ·
Former Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings smiles Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Tamika Catchings’ heartfelt message to Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton after NBA Finals lossRussell Steinberg ·
Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) after winning game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center
Isaiah Hartenstein reveals hilarious story of Thunder’s free agency recruitmentJosue Pavon ·

Williams noted that Siakam was able to do his job against the Knicks and in the NBA Playoffs while still being able to “fly under the radar ” because of the attention that Haliburton commanded. Through six games in the New York series, Siakam led the Pacers with an average of 24.8 points while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from behind the arc. Haliburton was not too shabby either, putting up 21.0 points per contest while leading Indiana in rebounds (6.0) and assists (10.5).

Williams, also, couldn't help but bring up the awkward moment during the awarding ceremony on the court following the Pacers' series-clinching 125-108 Game 6 win over the Knicks.

“So I wasn't as surprised when he [Siakam] got it [the ECF MVP award], but it was kind of funny to see Tyrese feel like that he was about to walk up there and receive that award, but it could have went either way. So, as funny as the internet made it, he was right,” said Williams. “Like I'm one vote away. I was one vote away from getting this trophy, but it was also well-deserved for Pascal Siakam as well.”

With the Knicks series all behind them now, Haliburton and the Pacers put their entire focus on their upcoming NBA Finals matchup versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. That series will start on Thursday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, where Game 2 will also be played on Sunday.