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Denny Hamlin flexes spookily accurate NBA Finals, Tom Brady Fanatics Fest predictions

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones06/24/25brianjones_93
Denny Hamlin
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin predicted that the Oklahoma City Thunder would win the NBA title and Tom Brady would have a strong showing at Fanatics Fest. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin talked about his accurate predictions, which happened at Fanatics Fest.

“When I did the red carpet for the 40/40 Club at Fanatics Fest, they asked me for my Game 7 NBA Finals prediction,” Hamlin said. “I said Oklahoma City wins this game by 12. They won the game by 12. And then we had a bet, I said Tom Brady would win Fanatics Fest athletic competition. And he did.”

Tom Brady won the inaugural Fanatics Games at Fanatics Fest in New York over the weekend, taking home $1 million. Brady and other athletes (including Denny Hamlin) and fans took part in eight sports-themed skills competitions: quarterback skills, basketball shooting (around the world), soccer goal-scoring, baseball pitching accuracy, a washer-dryer hockey shooting challenge, a WWE Superstar entrance, a UFC striking challenge and a closest-to-the-pin golf challenge.

More on Denny Hamlin losing to Tom Brady and the NBA Finals

Denny Hamlin finished 37th in the Fanatics Games leaderboard. He finished one spot behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and one spot above Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. During Fanatics Fest, Damar Hamlin met Denny Hamlin and said he would tell people they were cousins.

Denny Hamlin was likely one of the many people who picked the Thunder to win Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Thunder were the best team in the league (from a records standpoint) and had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named NBA MVP. The Thunder won their second NBA title in franchise history and first in Oklahoma City. The franchise’s first title was in 1979 when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.

“Feels amazing,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after the game on Sunday night. “So much weight off my shoulders. So much stress relieved. No matter what, you go into every night wanting to win. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way. Tonight could have been one of those nights where we found a way. So proud of this group. Wouldn’t want to do it with any other group in the world. Feels good to be a champion.