An Oklahoma City Thunder fan sitting behind the basket during Game 5 of the NBA Finals successfully distracted Indiana Pacers star Pascal Siakam from making a free throw by holding up his baby.
Siakam got to the charity stripe midway through the first frame of Monday’s championship-series game, making the first of two free throws.
The cameras then pan to a fan behind the hoop, wearing the official blue Thunder championship shirts.
That father then repeatedly holds up his baby like its Simba in ‘The Lion King’ to distract the Pacers’ leading scorer and rebounder during his second free throw attempt.
The baby is wearing an all-black outfit with headphones, protecting the adolescent from the loud noises inside Paycom Center.
Siakam’s second free throw hits the back rim, the front rim, and falls out of the cylinder for a rebound, with the task of making the Pacers’ star miss the shot deemed successful.
A young Oklahoma City Thunder fan distracted Pascal Siakam from making a free throw
Siakam’s only missed free throw of the game came with the baby being held up by his father
Siakam did finish the game 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, with the kid distraction proving to be his only miss from the charity stripe.
The 31-year-old was also Indiana’s leading scorer during Game 5, putting home 28 points in the 120-109 loss to Oklahoma City.
The Pacers now need to win each of the next two games to not fall one step short of an NBA title in their first finals since 2000.
Oklahoma City won each of the last two games, with huge performances from stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
Whether any Pacers fans sitting behind the rim at Gainbridge Fieldhouse replicate the move on Thursday is yet to be seen.
