Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association. The name pays homage to Indiana's racing heritage, the pace cars used at the Indianapolis 500 and the state's harness racing tradition. The team joined the NBA in 1976 after the ABA-NBA merger and has since become a fixture in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a 17,923-seat arena in downtown Indianapolis that opened in 1999. Known for its retro design and loud crowds, the arena has been a fortress for the team. Before that, they called Market Square Arena home from 1974 to 1999, and the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum from 1967 to 1974.

The franchise won three ABA championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973 under coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard. They reached the NBA Finals twice: in 2000, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, and in 2025, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers have nine division titles, three in the ABA and six in the NBA.[edit]

The Pacers were born in 1967 as one of the original ABA franchises. Under coach Bobby Leonard, they dominated the league, winning three championships in four years from 1970 to 1973. Stars like Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, and George McGinnis powered those title runs. The merger with the NBA in 1976 brought challenges, but the team found its footing in the 1990s.

Reggie Miller arrived in 1987 and became the face of the franchise. His clutch shooting and rivalry with the New York Knicks defined an era. In 1994, the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time, falling to the Knicks in seven games. A year later, they made it again, losing to the Orlando Magic. Under Larry Bird's coaching, the Pacers finally broke through to the NBA Finals in 2000, but fell to the Lakers.

The early 2000s saw the team as a perennial contender, led by Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson. The infamous "Malice at the Palace" brawl in 2004 derailed that era. The team rebuilt around Paul George in the 2010s, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014, losing to the Miami Heat both times.

After a rebuild, the Pacers emerged again in 2023-24, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals behind All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. The following season, they won 50 games and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder.[edit]