Rookie Johnny Furphy on cusp of winning NBA’s biggest prize

In just two years, Melbourne’s Johnny Furphy has gone from finishing high school in Australia to being three games away from winning an NBA championship.

EXCLUSIVE: Just two years ago, Melbourne’s Johnny Furphy was finishing high school in Australia and dreaming of a career as a professional basketball player – today he’s three games away from winning an NBA championship.

The 20-year-old has had a fairytale rookie year with the Indiana Pacers as the team vies to win its first championship in franchise history.

“It’s a very exciting time,” Furphy told this masthead in an exclusive interview.

“It’s unreal. I don’t really understand yet how significant this is, especially happening in my rookie year, but I’m just trying to enjoy this as much as possible.”

After winning the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the Pacers are now locked in a best of seven battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder for basketball’s biggest prize.

Johnny Furphy of the Indiana Pacers from the 2024 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images

Johnny Furphy passes over Craig Porter Jr of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Picture: Jason Miller/Getty Images

The Pacers defeated the New York Knicks to take out the Eastern Conference title in an epic showdown that saw celebrities like Ben Stiller, Kylie Jenner, Martha Stewart and Timothee Chalamet flock to a packed Madison Square Garden each night.

“Especially being on the sideline watching it all unfold, it doesn’t really feel real sometimes that we’re just playing basketball and everyone’s there watching,” Furphy said of the star-studded Knicks games.

Miles Teller, Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Ben Stiller react court-side during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

“It’s pretty cool, just the whole energy around it is really special.”

Furphy’s parents, siblings and friends have travelled from Australia to the United States to cheer him on in the remaining games of the season against Oklahoma.

The Pacers bested Oklahoma by just one point to win the first game of the finals series but lost game two – both teams now need three more wins to secure the championship.

It’s a dream that Furphy never could have imagined coming true.

A young Johnny Furphy playing junior basketball for Collingwood. Picture: Supplied

Johnny Furphy at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence. Picture: Supplied

“Absolutely not. I never would have thought I would have been here, even two years ago I was still in high school, so this is just unreal,” he said.

The former Maribyrnong Sports College student was drafted by the Pacers in June last year.

Furphy said, looking back on his whirlwind year, it was hard to choose his favourite highlight but said his NBA debut was a pinch me moment.

“But honestly, it’s been such an incredible year for me, just learning so much,” he said.

“I think the first year being professional, it’s been so much to learn from and definitely exciting to see where my teammates are and how they operate, and where I can be in the next year coming.”

Johnny Furphy is one of about a dozen Australians playing in the world’s most famous basketball league.

Furphy is one of about a dozen Australians playing in the world’s most famous basketball league and said it was nice to come across other Aussies on the court.

“You know every few games you’re up against another Australian, so that’s been cool,’ he said.

“It’s like a little community.”

After the finals, the rookie will go on to play in the NBA’s Summer League series but hopes to manage a trip back to Australia, where he’s looking forward to spending time with family, friends and his dogs.

Originally published as Rookie Johnny Furphy on cusp of winning NBA’s biggest prize