Indiana Pacers
From ABA dynasty to NBA contender, the Pacers' legacy is built on championships and Hall of Fame talent.
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.
- season_year
- 2024–25
- franchise_season_number
- 58
- nba_season_number
- 49
- head_coach
- Rick Carlisle (eighth season)
- final_seed
- 4
- regular_season_wins
- 50
- playoff_result
- Lost NBA Finals (7 games) to Oklahoma City Thunder
- key_acquisition
- Pascal Siakam (four-year, $189.5 million)
- key_losses_free_agent
- Jalen Smith (Chicago Bulls), Oscar Tshiebwe (Utah Jazz)
- key_injuries
- James Wiseman (Achilles), Isaiah Jackson (Achilles)
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
The climax of the season arrived in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the first quarter, Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon, an injury expected to sideline him for all of the next season. This moment capped a series where the Pacers had already rallied from deficits in Game 1 against New York and Game 2 against Cleveland. The team's ability to overcome adversity against high-stakes opponents like Milwaukee and the Thunder solidified their run as one of the most improbable in NBA history, even though they ultimately fell short in seven games.
Reader's Guide
The Pacers were founded in 1967 as an ABA team. They played their first seven years at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, moving to Market Square Arena in 1974. They joined the NBA in 1976 as part of the ABA–NBA merger. The team struggled financially and on the court in their early NBA years, with only two non-losing seasons and two playoff appearances in their first 13 NBA seasons. The Reggie Miller era began with his drafting in 1987, leading to playoff appearances and Eastern Conference finals appearances in the 1990s. The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and 2025.
Did You Know?
- The Pacers were the most successful team in ABA history, winning three ABA Championships in four years.
- The team is named after Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500's pace cars and harness racing.
- Reggie Miller played his entire 18-year Hall of Fame career with the Pacers.
- The Pacers were one of four ABA teams that joined the NBA in the 1976 merger, along with the Denver Nuggets, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs.
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