Mark Jackson shared his biggest regret over losing the 2000 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Indiana Pacers ended the 25-year drought as they made it to the 2025 NBA Finals led by the dynamic duo of Tyrees Halliburton and Pascal Siakam.
When the Pacers last arrived at the NBA Finals, they faced the Los Angeles Lakers led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal in 2000.
The Lakers registered the Pacers for a 4-2 victory as a new NBA dynasty was born. But what about the Pacers? Former NBA All-Star Mark Jackson records his thoughts on the 6-Game Series vs. Lakers.
In the 2000 NBA Finals, the Lakers quickly led 2-0. The Pacers bounced back with a solid Game 3 victory.
The turning point of the series came when the Pacers were defeated in Game 4 by a 2-point OT. Jackson, a 2000 Pacers member, opened after losing that series in an interview with Shannon Sharp in 2021.
“We should have won. We won Game 3 and lost Game 4 in OT. Shaq was fouled out and the late Great Coby Bryant took over the game on his own in the fourth quarter and worked overtime,” Jackson previously said at Club Shay Shay.
He added: “We did everything we could, and I remember what we told Reggie Miller.
“I’m stupid to think I can do something.
“But I don’t think I’m going to stop him. I think I’ll hit him at a good time and send him a message and get out of his rhythm.”
For context, Mamba dropped 28 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in Game 4. He emerged as the team leader after O’Neill was fouled out.
Winning the 2000 NBA Championship was the first step the Lakers finally completed three peats.
Clearly, stopping purple and gold on their truck was tough, but Jackson still believes Pacer is the “perfect” matchup with the Kobe Shak Lakers.
“I slap him, it’s fine. Basket, and he’s on the line. I ‘Reggie, you got him, it’s not working,” Jackson continued.
“But we had depth in the power forward position, so we were enough. We had a centre, a weapon that could take advantage of Shaquille O’Neill’s flaws.
“So we were the perfect matchup,” he concluded.
Despite the freedom to use these weapons, the Pacers were able to win another game in the series as the Lakers put together the series in Game 6.