Indiana Gov Mike Braun savoring state's moment in national spotlight as Pacers lead NBA Finals

This year's NBA Finals are a battle between two small-market franchises but the governor of Indiana is fully embracing the national limelight shining on his state The Pacers are in their first NBA Finals since going up against the Oklahoma City Thunder The Pacers won three ABA titles in the early s while the Thunder organization has not won a title since when they were the Seattle SuperSonics The Pacers are up - in the series after yet another incredible comeback Gov Mike Braun reported he watched the tournament again shortly after it wrapped up and then once more the morning after Now he's starting to think they are a gang of destiny that embodies the blue-collar attitude of his state CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS COMBraun was a basketball player in high school and even played against Indiana legend Larry Bird Basketball to Hoosiers it's other states and then there's Indiana It means a lot because the Pacers have been constantly competitive but never been quite in that position to win it Braun declared in a new interview with Fox News Digital And this isn't one with authority other than they now have become a club of destiny it seems almost But coming back from points in Championship it's underdog status I've perpetually loved it when I was in sports and even as a politician and there's something about it When it works out it's even sweeter So that spotlight's going on Indiana the same spotlight on Oklahoma two states that are not in the national limelight Of discipline we are now and I'm savoring every minute of it It's been a fun time to be governor of Indiana let's put it that way Braun reported the Finals are a chance for Indiana to tell its own story and shows why people are flocking there to live I remember when I lived out in Boston for two years going to business school they must have not taken geography back in high school They had a couple of people who solicited Where exactly is Indiana Braun recalled WNBA SHOULD INVESTIGATE BRITTNEY GRINER VIDEO AFTER PROBING FALSE ALLEGES ABOUT FEVER FANS GOVERNOR SAYSBraun has lived the American dream After playing against Larry Bird in high school he became an entrepreneur before going into politics This day while he runs Indiana three of his four children run his business and his wife has owned the same home accessory gift store for years And while he is watching his Pacers vie for their first NBA championship he can't but think of a movie about Indiana basketball and the next generation Well I think that that would go back to if you watched the movie Hoosiers that would tell you every reason for why Indiana is the basketball state We've got so much history of that and the proof is in the pudding That proof is Braun's outfits while he campaigned and debated just rolled-up long-sleeve shirts Oh and Bobby Knight joining him on the campaign trail Where I grew up right on Highway you didn't really pay much attention driving by it every day Braun announced but on that same basketball goal that I played on is a grade-schooler or high schooler still out there on the driveway Follow Fox News Digital s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter