Indiana Pacers
From ABA dynasty to NBA contender, the Pacers carry Indiana's racing spirit.
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
- Affiliation
- Eastern Conference (Central vs. Southeast)
- Peak era
- 2004-2005
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 the most successful team in ABA history, winning three ABA Championships in four years. In all, they appeared in the ABA Finals five times in the league's nine-year history. After joining the NBA in 1976, they struggled early, with only two non-losing seasons and two playoff appearances in their first 13 years. The Reggie Miller era began in 1987 and included back-to-back Eastern Conference finals appearances in the mid-1990s. The team's home games are played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
More in Great Rivalries & Feuds
Elsewhere in Washington Wizards
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced