Indiana Pacers: Five things you need to know

• Tyrese Haliburton emerging as one of NBA's top young point guards
• Pacers set franchise playoff scoring records in 2024 postseason run
• Appeared in two NBA Finals (2000 and 2025)

The Indiana Pacers are an NBA franchise who play out of the central division in the Eastern Conference. In around five decades of competition, the Pacers have made two NBA Finals, most recently appearing in this year’s finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite losing on both occasions, the franchise’s playoff runs have set records, and ingrained unforgettable moments into the heads of NBA fans.

2024-25 NBA Season Summary

• Record: 50-32
• Finish: 4th Seed (Lost in the Finals)
• All-Star Selections: Pascal Siakam

The Indiana Pacers 2024-25 season was incredible, in the background of so much doubt and outside noise, the Pacers took the Thunder to Game Seven of the NBA Finals. The Pacers exceeded expectations, defeating highly favoured Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks in the run to the finals. What made this run unforgettable was the omnipresence of superstar Tyrese Haliburton in clutch time, becoming the first player to sink a game winner in every round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Haliburton’s Achilles rupture in Game Seven of the NBA Finals, sunk the side’s chances and has resulted in their superstar missing the entirety of the next season.

Re-signing

• Isaiah Jackson returns on 3-year deal
• James Wiseman returns on a 2-year deal

Additions

• Jay Huff arrives via trade with Grizzlies

Departures

• Myles Turner departs in free agency to Bucks

Following their historic run in the playoffs, the Pacers have had a quiet offseason. The loss of Myles Turner to rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks, will be a critical blow for the side, relying on his paint presence and his ability to stretch the floor to succeed with Rick Carlisle’s system. With no evident replacement in the Pacers’ roster, coaching staff will have a big task on their hands, adjusting the offence to fill the voids left by Turner and Haliburton.

Despite huge losses, the Pacers have maintained their strong core of Pascal Siakam, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith who can keep their seventh-ranked offence ticking. In what could be a bridge year for the Pacers, expect more opportunities for fringe players like Australian Johnny Furphy to get some extra time on the court.

Now in Rick Carlisle’s fifth season at the Pacers, the franchise finds themselves in a unique situation where they could be one year away from competing for the title once again. It would be difficult for the Pacers to replicate the success of the 2024/25 season; however, they are still a contender to make their third straight postseason.

2025-26 Predicted Lineup

1. Point Guard: Andrew Nembhard
2. Shooting Guard: Benedict Mathurin
3. Small Forward: Aaron Nesmith
4. Power Forward: Pascal Siakam
5. Centre: Jay Huff

Australians who have played for the Indiana Pacers

Johnny Furphy: Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Furphy was selected by the Pacers with the 35th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Known for his athleticism and shooting ability, he is expected to contribute to the team's wing rotation.

History of the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers started out as a franchise in the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. The Pacers were one of the most successful ABA teams of all time, winning three championships throughout the 70s.

In 1976, the Pacers became one of four ABA teams to join the NBA through the association's merger. The Pacers' early years in the NBA was tough, with the side continually struggling to qualify for the playoffs. Before drafting the franchise’s greatest player, Reggie Miller in 1987, Indiana only qualified for the playoffs on two occasions.

The Pacers' greatest era came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Reggie Miller led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance in 2000. The battles between Miller's Pacers and the New York Knicks defined an era of physical, defence-first basketball in the Eastern Conference.

More recently, the Paul George-led teams of the mid-2010s were perennial playoff contenders. However, the franchise hit a rebuilding phase after trading George in 2017.

Now in the Tyrese Haliburton era, the side have enjoyed considerable success, winning an Eastern Conference title and taking the Thunder to Game Seven of the NBA Finals. Their 2025 playoff run will go down in franchise history, with Haliburton sinking multiple game-winners and inflicting déjà vu on New York Knicks fans by recreating Reggie Miller’s iconic choke celebration.

Identity

The Pacers have embraced an up-tempo, offensive-minded identity under head coach Rick Carlisle. Led by dynamic point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana plays at one of the fastest paces in the NBA and excels at spacing the floor with shooters to create driving lanes. The team philosophy centres on ball movement, player movement, and taking advantage of mismatches.

Defensively, the Pacers have struggled at times, often relying on outscoring opponents rather than getting consistent stops. However, the development of players like Andrew Nembhard have vastly improved their perimeter defence. The team culture emphasises player development and building chemistry among their young core.

Five Fast Facts:

1. The Pacers name comes from Indiana's history with harness racing and the Indianapolis 500 pace cars
2. They are one of four ABA teams that joined the NBA in the 1976 ABA-NBA merger
3. Reggie Miller holds the franchise record for points scored with 25,279
4. The team has reached the conference finals 10 times but has only made the NBA Finals twice
5. Tyrese Haliburton set the franchise record for assists in a season with 752 in 2023-24

Club Timeline:

• 1967: Franchise founded as member of ABA
• 1970: Win first ABA championship
• 1976: Join NBA as part of ABA-NBA merger
• 1987: Draft Reggie Miller 11th overall
• 2000: Reach NBA Finals, lose to Lakers in 6 games
• 2010: Draft Paul George 10th overall
• 2017: Trade Paul George to Thunder, beginning rebuild
• 2022: Acquire Tyrese Haliburton in trade with Kings
• 2024: Reach Eastern Conference Finals
• 2025: Reach NBA Finals, lose to Thunder in 7 games

After their fairytale run in the 2025 playoffs, the Pacers have lost some crucial players to free agency and serious injury. In the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, the likes of Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard will need to take on a greater responsibility, as the side may look to fringe players to take on more minutes. It may be difficult for the Pacers to qualify for the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, but with the same hunger and hard work as last season, you can’t write them off.