• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 1, 2025

The NBA’s Final Four May Not Be Exactly What the League Envisioned

  • Top markets and the highest-paid stars are missing from the conference finals.
  • One team continues to deal with a messy ownership situation.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s conference finals begin Tuesday night as the Pacers visit the Celtics to tip off the action in the East, before the Mavericks and Timberwolves begin their series in Minnesota on Wednesday. But without some of the league’s top media markets, highest-paid players, and last year’s NBA Finals participants, this final four will need to lean on its own unique drama to draw big audiences as this year’s champion is eventually crowned.

What Could Have Been

On Sunday, a pair of dramatic Game 7s saw the Timberwolves knock out the defending champion Nuggets, and the Pacers eliminate the Knicks, denying New York—and its huge fan base—the franchise’s first conference final appearance since 2000.

Meanwhile, only one player with a top-15 salary in the NBA this season made it to the conference finals: Rudy Gobert. The Minnesota center ranked 13th this season, with a salary of $41 million, according to Spotrac. So, without high-priced MVP winners like Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokić, the NBA will instead rely on new stars like Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards to create and sustain fan interest.

Don’t Look Now

Perhaps the most intriguing team off the court still alive this postseason is the Timberwolves. Having won their first playoff series in two decades, Minnesota is now the betting favorite to advance to the first NBA Finals in franchise history, all while a messy ownership transition plays out. Majority owner Glen Taylor continues to feud—and battle in court—with minority investors Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, who were supposed to have full control of the organization at this point as part of a $1.5 billion deal agreed to in 2021.

This postseason also marks the first under new ownership for the Mavericks, after Mark Cuban sold his majority stake in a deal that values the franchise at $3.5 billion. For the Pacers, even though they’re huge underdogs (at least +700 at most sportsbooks) to the Celtics while playing in their first conference final in a decade, the guarantee of at least two home games will add to the hype and revenue machine that their WNBA counterpart, the Fever, have turned into thanks to the addition of rookie Caitlin Clark.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 29, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) celebrates a shot in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Malik Beasley’s Messy Offseason Includes $2.25M Suit From Ex-Agency

The former Pistons player is not having a good summer.

Gauff, Pegula Out at Wimbledon in Nightmare Start for American Women

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, entering Wimbledon.

LIV Golf CEO Pushes Back On PGA Tour Merger

Scott O’Neil said there could be new opportunities for the Tour’s players.

Featured Today

The Battle Over Wimbledon’s Ambitious Expansion Plan

A classic NIMBY standoff on one of the most hallowed grounds in sports.
Seattle Rough & Tumble
June 28, 2025

Women’s Sports Bars Are on the Rise. Survival Isn’t Guaranteed

Some women’s sports bars are cashing in. Others are clawing for funding.
June 27, 2025

Shitposters Have Taken the Reins of Pro Sports’ Official Voices

Meet the social media pros turning sports teams into internet trolls.
Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) hoists the Stanley Cup after winning game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena
June 26, 2025

Stanley Cup’s International Summer Tour: Rules, Repairs, and Raucousness

No pro trophy tour compares to the NHL’s three-month global victory lap.

New Philadelphia Arena Was Key to City’s Successful WNBA Bid

The forthcoming team will play in a new arena in South Philadelphia.
July 1, 2025

Bobby Bonilla On Annual $1.2M Payday: ‘It Doesn’t Suck’

The former MLB star receives another $1.19 million from the Mets today.
July 1, 2025

NBA Salary Cap Up 7% in 2026–27, but Teams Expected More

The 2026–27 salary cap is projected at $165 million.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Rob Manfred, Commissioner of the MLB, speaks to the media during Cactus League media day at the Arizona Biltmore on Feb. 18, 2025, in Phoenix.
June 30, 2025

Manfred, MLB Owners Pitch Directly to Players Ahead of CBA Expiration

Owners see a disconnect between union leadership and individual players.
Nov 16, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang celebrates during a team celebration lap after the playoff semifinal match against NJ/NY Gotham FC at Audi Field.
June 30, 2025

Michele Kang to Lead Lyon As UEFA Delays Multi-Club Ownership Ruling

Lyon’s Europa League fate remains unclear as Michele Kang replaces John Textor.
Jun 10, 2025; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) participates in a drill during an NFL football minicamp at NRG Stadium.
June 30, 2025

30 of 32 NFL Second-Round Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

Some rookie training camps start in under two weeks.
June 30, 2025

NHL Free Agency Begins With Big Money but Modest Star Power

Teams will look to take advantage of an enlarged salary cap.