NBA Finals MVP Ladder: Tyrese Haliburton regains lead as growing legacy blooms

Tyrese Haliburton powers the Pacers past Thunder in Game 3.

INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton can be somewhat of a polarizing figure in NBA circles. Is he an elite player? Where does he rank among this generation of point guards? And how should history explain what he’s doing now?

Well, it’s very simple: If Haliburton wins a championship and captures the NBA Finals MVP, it would cement a storied run and become a legacy builder for a player who has never won a major award in his career or left the bench very much last summer for Team USA in the Olympics.

That’s what’s at stake here for the Pacers guard against Oklahoma City. Even better for the Pacers, he wants it all, wants the trophy and the respect and recognition that comes with it.

As of right now, he’s your leader in the NBA Finals MVP Ladder and perhaps two wins away from his goal.

And if he finishes with a flourish in this series, will Haliburton become a household name in the game? At the very least, it would be a start, a foundation-builder for a player who’s just tapping his prime.

The stat to know: Haliburton has yet to attempt a free throw in this series. Imagine the conversation if this were the case with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Anyway, Haliburton has 53 points total despite the lack of free throws.

What they are saying: “I think Andrew is doing a great job of staying in front, being physical, just making it hard on him, just trying to give him different looks. He’s [Gilgeous-Alexander] the MVP, the best scorer in the NBA. Feels like when he wakes up, he has 30.” — Haliburton on teammate Andrew Nembhard’s defensive approach against SGA. 

1. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers

2025 Finals stats: 17.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.7 apg

His case: He has been the pace-setter for Indiana with his tempo and ability to score and find teammates. Game 3 was his most impressive start-to-finish performance in this series. Haliburton was aggressive, looked for his shot and helped the Pacers avoid the first-half stumbles of the first two games.

Of course, there’s another reason he leads this ladder — the Pacers are leading the series. Other than being uncharacteristically reckless with the ball — he’s averaging four turnovers per game — Haliburton’s contributions are the primary reason the Pacers are up 2-1.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

2025 Finals stats: 32.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apg

His case: Still the most dangerous player on the floor, Gilgeous-Alexander is the leading scorer in the series and perhaps one win away from reclaiming the top spot on this ladder. OKC’s chances of winning increase substantially when he plays well, no matter what the Pacers offer.

Game 3 represented a slight setback for him; he seemed to tire in the fourth quarter (just one basket) and suffered from six turnovers. Yet, Gilgeous-Alexander is the primary focus of the Pacers’ defense, as he should be. If he has a strong Game 4 reply, Gilgeous-Alexander is right back holding pole position in the Finals MVP conversation.

SO. SHIFTY.

Shai wiggles to the cup 🕺 pic.twitter.com/n0fAhshY0G

— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025

3. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

2025 Finals stats: 18.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.7 apg

His case: He only struggled in Game 2, like most of the Pacers in that loss. Otherwise, Siakam’s consistency stands out. He’s the Pacers’ leading scorer and rebounder in the series while surrendering just three turnovers total.

Siakam is doing almost all of his offensive damage from 18 feet; he has attempted just eight 3-pointers through three games. And yet, OKC hasn’t figured out a way to slow him down. Siakam proved to be a big-game player during the 2019 title run in Toronto and has the same mindset now.

4. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

2025 Finals stats: 20.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.7 apg

His case: There’s the feeling that Williams hasn’t yet put his stamp on this series. Overall, he has been solid, and at times, shaky, so maybe he’s due for a night. There were stretches in Game 3 where Williams teased about a takeover, especially at the end of the third quarter when he helped OKC assume a five-point lead.

He has plenty on his plate as the No. 2 option on offense and checking Siakam defensively. One way or the other, Williams will be a factor in OKC winning or losing this series, especially if the Pacers apply additional handcuffs on Gilgeous-Alexander.

JDUB BEATS THE 3RD QUARTER BUZZER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/BrmxGzcyzD

— NBA (@NBA) June 12, 2025

5. Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers

2025 Finals stats: 11.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg

His case: He swished a massive 3-pointer during Indiana’s valiant fourth-quarter run in Game 1, but his impact is largely defensive in this series. While being guarded by Nembhard, Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting just 35%, which, for him, represents a step down from his usual efficiency standards.

Nembhard’s confidence is growing by the game and he’s making Gilgeous-Alexander work for every shot. This is obviously important to the Pacers’ chances of winning the championship. While he remains a long shot to capture Finals MVP, Nembhard can become an instant Pacers hero if they win this championship.

* * *

Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.