ECF MVP Race: Latest Odds, Standout Performances & What It Means for the NBA Finals

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam has captured the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player award, securing the Larry Bird Trophy after leading Indiana past the New York Knicks in six games. The two-time All-Star averaged 27.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 53.6 percent from the field during the series, posting three 30-point performances and finishing with a +48 cumulative plus-minus. His efficiency in the paint and mid-range forced the Knicks to abandon single-coverage schemes, opening passing lanes that fueled Indiana’s league-leading transition attack. Key moments • Game 2: Siakam poured in 38 points on 15-for-23 shooting, including a personal 10-0 run late in the fourth that flipped a six-point deficit into a Pacers victory. • Game 4: With Tyrese Haliburton limited by foul trouble, Siakam tallied 28-11-7 and held Julius Randle to 4-for-15 shooting, giving Indiana a 3-1 cushion. • Game 6 clincher: He scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, sealing the series with a soaring put-back dunk that ignited Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Haliburton or Siakam? Social media buzzed when many assumed hometown franchise star Tyrese Haliburton would earn the honor, but the voting panel favored Siakam’s two-way dominance and consistent closing plays. Haliburton still averaged 21.4 points and 13.0 assists, underscoring why Indiana acquired Siakam at the February trade deadline to form the East’s most versatile forward-guard tandem. Historic company Siakam becomes the third recipient of the Larry Bird Trophy since its 2022 inception, joining Jayson Tatum and Jimmy Butler. He’s the first Pacer to win any conference finals MVP honor and the first Cameroonian to claim the award, adding to a résumé that already includes an NBA championship (2019) and the 2019 Most Improved Player. What it means for the Finals Indiana advances to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Western Conference Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, in a matchup pitting the league’s fastest offense against its stingiest clutch-time defense. Game 1 tips off Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Siakam’s ability to punish mismatches against Chet Holmgren and draw double-teams will be pivotal; expect the Thunder to rotate Lu Dort and Jalen Williams onto him to slow early-clock post-ups. Looking ahead • Contract implications: Siakam is eligible for a four-year, $212 million extension on July 6. • Legacy watch: A Finals win would make him one of only five active players with multiple rings and a conference finals MVP. • Pacers’ window: With Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard all under 25, Indiana projects to have max cap space in 2026, positioning the franchise for sustained contention. Bottom line Pascal Siakam’s seamless integration into Rick Carlisle’s up-tempo system has elevated the Pacers from dark-horse to Eastern Conference champions. If his conference-finals form carries over, Indiana’s first NBA title shot since 2000 could culminate in another piece of hardware—and more history—for the 30-year-old forward.