This former Kansas Jayhawk has a chance at a title in this year’s NBA Finals

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) - Another former Kansas Jayhawk has a chance at an NBA title beginning Thursday night.

Rookie guard Johnny Furphy and the Indiana Pacers begin Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. CT. Furphy, a sparingly played rookie, was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.

As a rookie, the Australian native averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds per game, appearing in 50 games for the eventual Eastern Conference champions during the regular season this year.

Furphy has played 23 minutes over seven appearances in the playoffs this season for Indiana.

The Pacers are heavy underdogs to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the series. If they pull the upset off and win the title, Furphy would extend a streak of three straight years in which a former Jayhawk has won the NBA title.

In 2022, Andrew Wiggins won with the Golden State Warriors. In 2023, Christian Braun won as a member of the Denver Nuggets, making history in the process. And in 2024, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk earned a ring with the Boston Celtics.

Former Kansas Jayhawk Kevin Pritchard is the president of basketball operations for the Pacers as well.