The Indiana Pacers Mascot 'Dunked' on Shaq Ahead of Game 3 vs. Knicks

Put him on a POSTER!
Boomer, the Indiana Pacers mascot, lunges over Shaquille O'Neal for a dunk on May 25, 2025.
Boomer, the Indiana Pacers mascot, lunges over Shaquille O'Neal for a dunk on May 25, 2025. / NBA on TNT / X / Screensho
In this story:

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is in the house for the Indiana Pacers' Game 3 vs. the New York Knicks on Saturday night, along with his Inside the NBA co-stars, though he began the evening getting posterized by Boomer, the Pacers' mascot.

As Shaq sat courtside, checking his phone well before tip-off, a discreet Pacers employee or fan donning a makeshift hoop sneaked behind him. Meanwhile, Boomer, just a few steps away, prepared his shot.

Once the hoop was in position, the mascot lunged toward O'Neal, who was seemingly did not suspect the dunk attempt and failed to block the shot. Boomer got the points, and Shaq was put on a poster. Gotta be quicker than that!

Watch that funny moment below:

The Pacers will no doubt hope to recreate this moment during the game, when they'll be looking for a third consecutive win in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. After winning the first two contests in Madison Square Garden, Indiana will host the Knicks in Gainbridge Fieldhouse for tonight's battle and Game 4 on Tuesday, at which point Shaq—and the Knicks—better keep their heads on a swivel.


More NBA on Sports Illustrated

feed


Published
Brigid Kennedy
BRIGID KENNEDY

Brigid Kennedy is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, she covered political news, sporting news and culture at TheWeek.com before moving to Livingetc, an interior design magazine. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, dual majoring in television, radio and film (from the Newhouse School of Public Communications) and marketing managment (from the Whitman School of Management). Offline, she enjoys going to the movies, reading and watching the Steelers.