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This year’s NBA final is a battle between two franchises with small markets, but the governor of Indiana fully embraces the national limelight that shines on its state.
Pacers are in their first NBA final since 2000 and goes up towards Oklahoma City Thunder. Pacers won three ABA titles in the early 1970s, while the Thunder organization has not won a title since 1979 when they were Seattle Supersonics.
Pacers are up 1-0 in the series after another incredible comeback. The government Mike Braun said he saw the game again shortly after it wrapped up, and then once again the morning after. Now he is beginning to believe that they are a “team of fate” that embodies his state’s blue collar attitude.
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Indiana Pacers Spider Aaron Nesmith and Guard Tyrese Haliburton celebrate after a game against Oklahoma City Thunder during the NBA final in the Paycom Center. (Kyle Terada-Preferred Pictures)
Braun was a basketball player in high school and even played against Indiana legend Larry Bird.
“Basketball for Hoosiers, it’s 49 other states, and then there’s Indiana. It means a lot because Pacers has always been competitive, but never been in this position to win it,” Braun said in a recent interview with Pakinomist Digital. “And this is not one with authority other than they have now become a team of fate, it seems to be almost. But coming back from 15 points (in game 1), it’s the underdog status.
“I’ve always loved it when I was in sports and even as a politician, and there’s something about it. When it works, it’s even sweeter. So what is going on with Indiana, the same spotlight at Oklahoma, two states that are not in the national limelight. Of course we are now, and I enjoy every minute of it … It’s been a fun time that
Braun said the final is a chance for Indiana to tell her own story and shows why people are flowing there to live.
“I remember when I lived in Boston for two years attending business school, they must not have taken back geography in high school. They had a few people who asked, ‘Where is Indiana?'” Braun remembered.
Then-sen. Mike Braun talks at US Capitol on March 6, 2024, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Braun has lived the American dream. After playing against Larry Bird in high school, he became an entrepreneur before entering politics. Today, while operating Indiana, three of his four children run his business and his wife has owned the same gift shop at home for 47 years.
And while watching his pacers fight for their first NBA championship, he can’t help but think of a movie about Indiana Basketball and the next generation.
“Well, I think it would return to if you saw the movie ‘Hoosiers’, it would tell you any reason for (why Indiana is the basketball state). We have so much story about it and the evidence is in pudding.”
This proof is Braun’s clothes while campaigning and discussing-rolling long-sleeved shirts. Oh, and Bobby Knight, who joins him on the campaign track.
Indiana Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton dribbles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the NBA final. (Kyle Terada-Preferred Pictures)
“Where I grew up, right on highway 231, you weren’t really aware of driving with it every day,” said Braun, “but on the same basketball goal that I was playing on is a class school or high school that is still out there on the driveway.”
