Comedian and actor Mike Epps, a native of Indianapolis. He’s unapologetic about his lifelong fandom for the Indiana Pacers as they charge into the NBA Finals! A dedicated fan since the days of player Billy Knight, who played for the Pacers from 1979 to 1983, Epps has been vocal about his love for the team, especially during this historic moment.
Epps is no stranger to making us all laugh — he’s accomplished this through his standup comedy as well as unforgettably hysterical appearances in “Next Friday,” “Friday After Next,” and the “Hangover” trilogy. Today, he is a beloved part of Pacers’ fan lore. He’s the self-proclaimed, self-appointed franchise biggest celebrity booster, going to games at Market Square Arena as a lad. His eagerness to talk about the Pacers is infectious, especially when he considers how far the team has come.
In explaining his love for the Pacers, Epps had this to say… Oh man, why am I a Pacer fan? His ties to the team extend well beyond, and he’s seen plenty of the franchise’s greats play, and that’s part of what made it so special. Speaking of his Pacers’ heritage, his favorite player of all time is Reggie Miller, the franchise’s all-time favorite player and perhaps its greatest player ever. Epps’ admiration for Miller is a perfect reflection of his commitment to the Pacers and their history.
The Pacers are going to the Finals! Epps has already committed to being in Indy for those games and is likely to make it to OKC as well. You can tell how excited he is just to see the team in a good place. What was perhaps most interesting was his infectious optimism and glee at having gotten this far. For making this much progress, he boasted, “We’ve already won. I’m not playing with my own money anymore. How about that? We playing with the house’s money.”
Epps appreciates the reality Indianapolis faces as a small market. But beyond that, he thinks a championship win would fundamentally change the city. “It’s live. It’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be mayhem. It’s going to be like how it was when the Chicago Bulls won for the first time,” he predicted.
His passion extends well beyond W’s on a scoreboard. If the Pacers win it all, Epps envisions a jubilant victory parade overtaking downtown Indianapolis. He says it’s an accomplishment that will make fans happy. Beyond these obvious benefits, it will go a long way towards building a strong sense of community pride.
Looking back on previous seasons, Epps thought the 04-05 Pacers had the complete package needed to take down a trophy for the NBA title. Sadly, that proved insufficient. Despite their subpar record, it’s his absolute faith in the potential of this team that fuels his support and optimism.
Throughout the course of his career, Mike Epps has managed to juggle the two things that he loves most: comedy and basketball. The combination of these two worlds has opened up a space for him to connect with his audience beyond his fans and fellow basketball lovers. As one of the more popular figures in Indianapolis, he is one of the few voices of hope and celebration for Pacers fans right now.
Leave a Reply