Indiana Pacers

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 and 2025. 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.

In Their Own Story

Reggie Miller stood at the free-throw line, his eyes locked on the hoop, ignoring the deafening roar of the home crowd that seemed to vibrate through the hardwood. Across the court, Michael Jordan wiped his face with a towel, his expression unreadable but his body coiled like a spring. The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of another possession in a game that had already seen more fouls than points scored in the first quarter. There were no friendly handshakes here; only the silent, terrifying understanding that one mistake would be punished with brutal efficiency.

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. During their first 13 years in the NBA, they had only two non-losing seasons and only two playoff appearances. In 1986–87, Jack Ramsay led the Pacers to a 41–41 record and their second playoff appearance as an NBA team. Chuck Person won NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Reggie Miller was drafted in 1987. From 1989 to 1993, the Pacers qualified for the playoffs each year. Larry Brown became coach for the 1993–94 season, and the Pacers won an NBA-era franchise-high 47 wins, sweeping the Orlando Magic in the first round and defeating the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the conference semifinals.

Did You Know?

• The Pacers were the most successful team in ABA history, winning three ABA Championships in four years.
• The team's name is derived from Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500's pace cars and harness racing.
• Reggie Miller became the first Pacer to play in the NBA All-Star Game since 1976, based on his 24.6 points-per-game average in the 1989–90 season.