When it comes to the NBA playoffs, heroic displays come in all sorts of different flavors.
Some are authored by supernovas, who set the basket alight with a flurry of baskets. Others are defined by the little guys, those who excel at the finer details of the sport — setting screens, battling for boards, and making hockey assists.
Then, there are those who do both. They’re not always stars — in fact, often they aren’t — but their desire to make magic happen on both ends of the floor creates captivating viewing.
Thomas Bryant took his place among those figures on Saturday night, putting forth a wondrous display in spot minutes as the Pacers bested the Knicks 125-108 in Game 6. His showing was just what Indiana needed to punch its ticket to its second-ever NBA Finals. Here’s what you need to know.
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Thomas Bryant stats Game 6 vs. Knicks
- Minutes: 12
- Points: 11
- Rebounds: 3
- Assists: 0
- Steals: 0
- Blocks: 1
- Turnovers: 0
- FG: 3-5
- 3PT: 3-4
- FT: 2-2
Bryant only tallied 22 minutes in the opening five games of the series. He collected 12 in Game 6 alone, showcasing a delicate shooting touch and plenty of physicality on both ends of the floor.
Bryant canned three corner threes, all of which prompted a swell of enthusiasm from the Indiana faithful. Resident Pacers enthusiast Pat McAfee testified to the crowd’s love for the Hoosiers alum.
There was just a Thomas Bryant chant in the building.. dude is BALLIN
Also.. was an Indiana Hoosier. Potential lifetime of free shit in the city forever type situation brewing
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 1, 2025
A former NBA champion with the 2023 Nuggets, Bryant has gotten some burn in the postseason, recording 21 minutes in a Game 3 loss to the Bucks in Round 1. All told, he has seven games with at least 10 minutes — a solid, if unspectacular, tally for a player who only averaged nine minutes per contest during the regular season.
His latest appearance came out of necessity, as Myles Turner was forced to the sidelines after picking up five fouls.
In stepped Bryant, a player who has quietly developed a solid shooting stroke. He showed it off in abundance on Saturday night, especially during a decisive 3rd-quarter run that put the game out of reach. Rick Carlisle and Co. are more than grateful for his contribution.
Thomas Bryant highlights vs. Knicks
Bryant found life from beyond the three-point line, whetting the nylon with a trio of successful efforts. Each came from his patented corner.
TB goes B2B 🙌
Thomas Bryant buries two threes and adds a block in just over three minutes in Q3. pic.twitter.com/YMs0E0Y9oO
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 1, 2025
Bryant also gave viewers a glimpse of his defensive chops, swatting away a would-be OG Anunoby attempt that sparked a Pascal Siakam and-1.
defense ➡️ and-1 ➡️ reaction 😤
watch this sequence from Thomas Bryant and Pascal Siakam 👀 pic.twitter.com/MmGNoPO0iJ
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 1, 2025
Bryant got love from Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam after the game.
“YEAH, THOMAS. YEAHHHH!”
Pascal Siakam shouted out Thomas Bryant for his MASSIVE impact off the bench in the @Pacers Finals-clinching win 👏💯 https://t.co/sjKGTXta3s pic.twitter.com/tr8mE4qvzV
— NBA (@NBA) June 1, 2025
The emotions bubbled over for Bryant, and once again Siakam was there to lift his teammate.
Thomas Bryant was emotional after winning, hunched over at the scorer’s table, hit it a few times. Pascal Siakam came to talk to him for a bit. pic.twitter.com/nTJgtAyTho
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) June 1, 2025
Is Thomas Bryant related to Kobe Bryant?
Contrary to popular belief — and his Game 6 performance — Bryant shares no relation to Kobe Bryant (though he did have two separate stints with the Lakers, never crossing paths with the late legend).
Ancestry has 5 million records pertaining to the surname “Bryant.” Not all of those people are related, either. It’s a fairly common last name in the United States — per 23 and Me, it’s the 128th-most popular last name in the US.
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