NBA Finals an amazing showcase for basketball says stars Tyrese Maxey and Derrick White

SINGAPORE – As the tension builds ahead of the decider for the National Basketball Association title, the drama of the Finals has left little doubt that the game is in a good place, said NBA stars Derrick White and Tyrese Maxey.

The duo are gushing with pride as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers battle for glory on June 22 (June 23, Singapore time) at the Paycom Centre after a close battle in the best-of-seven series.

Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star guard Maxey said: “I feel like the play-offs this year has been amazing, honestly, second to none. This Finals series has been amazing for basketball.

“I think Oklahoma City and Indiana have really showed the world a different way of basketball, a different way how things can go. So I’m very appreciative of them for that, and I’m excited to see who wins the game.”

White, who helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 title, added: “For the Finals, it’s been great. I don’t know what’s going to happen in Game 7. Anything can happen, and these are two teams that play hard and play the right way. And so it’s definitely been a good Finals.”

The pair are in town alongside Portland Trail Blazers centre Duop Reath, and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) legend Ticha Penicheiro, for the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp, which is part of the global basketball development and community outreach programme of International Basketball Federation (Fiba) and the NBA.

Both Maxey and White agreed with the assessment of NBA icon and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who said at the Fanatics Fest in New York on June 21 that “the game of basketball is the best it’s ever been”.

White, 30, said: “Obviously the league, the talent, all the players, are having a