2015-2017 Paul George & George Hill Era
From ABA dynasty to NBA contender, the Pacers' legacy is built on championships, Hall of Fame talent, and a relentless spirit.
The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. They 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
- Frank Vogel (2015–2016), Nate McMillan (2016–2017)
- Anchor guard
- George Hill
- Franchise acquisition
- Paul George (drafted by the Pacers in 2010, played for Indiana from 2010–2017)
- Front office
- Donnie Walsh, President of Basketball Operations
- Playoff appearances
- 2015, 2016, and 2017 postseason runs
- Team identity
- Defensive intensity
- three-point shooting
- 'next man up' culture
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.
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. Reggie Miller from UCLA was drafted by the Pacers in 1987. From 1989 to 1993, the Pacers would play at or near .500 and qualify for the playoffs. Larry Brown was brought aboard as Pacers' coach for the 1993–94 season, and the Pacers won their last eight games of the season to finish with an NBA-era franchise-high 47 wins. They stormed past Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic in a first-round sweep to earn their first NBA playoff series win, and pulled off an upset by defeating the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the conference semifinals.
Did You Know?
- The Pacers appeared in the ABA Finals five times in the league's nine-year history, which was an ABA record.
- Reggie 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' first playoff win in NBA franchise history was earned in game 3 of their first-round, best-of-five series against the Atlanta Hawks in 1987.
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