Indiana Pacers

From ABA dynasty to NBA contender, the Pacers carry Indiana's basketball legacy.

via Wikipedia: Larry Bird · see source

The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1967 as an original member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and became a member of the NBA in 1976 as a result of the ABA–NBA merger. They play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The team is named after the state of Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500's pace cars and with the harness racing industry.

Quick Facts

Head coach tenure: 1997–2000
Advisory role end date: July 2022

Lore & Background

The Pacers have won three championships, in 1970, 1972, and 1973, all in the ABA. They also reached the ABA Finals in 1969 and 1975, and have also appeared in the NBA Finals in 2000. The team has also won nine division titles. Six Hall of Fame players – Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Alex English, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and George McGinnis – played with the Pacers for multiple seasons. The franchise has multiple Hall of Fame coaches in Bobby "Slick" Leonard, Jack Ramsay, and Larry Brown. Furthermore, former Pacers inducted into international Halls of Fame include Miller and Detlef Schrempf in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

The Pacers were one of four ABA teams that joined the NBA in the ABA–NBA merger in the 1976–77 season, along with the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. The league charged a $3.2 million entry fee for each former ABA team. The Pacers finished their inaugural NBA season with a record of 36–46. Billy Knight and Don Buse represented Indiana in the NBA All-Star Game. Reggie Miller from UCLA was drafted by the Pacers in 1987. Miller became the first Pacer to play in the All-Star Game since 1976 on the strength of his 24.6 points-per-game average. The Pacers have appeared in the NBA Finals in 2000.

Did You Know?

Reggie Miller played his entire 18-year Hall of Fame career with the Pacers.
The Pacers played their first seven seasons at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum before moving to Market Square Arena in 1974.