The two best words in sports are “Game 7.”
Football fans would disagree, as “Super Bowl” could easily fill those shoes. Either way, those who do their thing on the gridiron could never feel the energy Game 7 brings.
One man who’s both hoping for a Super Bowl in his future and locked into the next Game 7 is New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Not only is he locked in, but he’s offering up a prediction.
Thanks to an Instagram video featured on Sauce’s official account, we now know that the Oklahoma City Thunder are his pick to take home the 2025 NBA championship.
When asked who would win Sunday night’s winner-take-all decider, Gardner kept it short and sweet.
“OKC,” he said with a slight smile.
Gardner, 24, made his prediction while at Fanatics Fest. You all know the deal here: It’s the same event where Jets’ all-time villain Tom Brady did his best Macho Man impression with a Jets uniform.
More interestingly, Brady spit and stomped on a No. 1 Jets jersey—Sauce Gardner-specific garb.
Naturally, Sauce responded to Brady’s latest act in a highly Sauce-esque fashion:
In terms of the Jets’ lockdown corner’s prediction, it makes sense. After all, the Thunder are the home team, and they’ve been the best NBA team from start to finish this season.
Judging by the current odds, most are on the side of Oklahoma City.
Never count out this Indiana Pacers team, however. This is especially true when considering their head coach, Rick Carlisle.
Check out Jets X-Factor's Sauce Gardner player profileCarlisle won his first (and lone) NBA ring with the 2011 Dallas Mavericks on the road. Granted, it wasn’t Game 7, but in the old 2-3-2 days of the NBA Finals, Dallas was staring down two straight road games in Miami against LeBron James.
Yet they got it done in the sixth game.
While Sauce Gardner’s outside cornerback game cannot be disputed, his NBA predictions are still very questionable. Only time will tell whether or not the young New York Jets defensive back is on the money.