Two players with Nashville ties will seek their first championship rings when the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder begin Thursday (7:30 p.m. CT, ABC).

Former Vanderbilt forward Aaron Nesmith and ex-Belmont guard Ben Sheppard hope to boost the Pacers to a third straight series upset.

Ben Sheppard (No. 26) guards Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks during the first quarter in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27 in Indianapolis. Getty Images/Gregory Shamus

Indiana has a third Nashville connection on the sideline, as Music City native and University School of Nashville graduate Jenny Boucek is a Pacers assistant coach.

The Eastern Conference’s fourth seed, Indiana began the postseason with

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