IND NOP DAL IND IND BKN IND MIL PHI IND IND MIA BKN IND ATL IND IND MEM DEN INDHead Coach
Rick Carlisle
Assistant Coach
Trainer
Founded
1976
City
Indiana
Arena
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
G-League
Noblesville Boom
Governor(s)
Herb Simon
General Manager
Kevin Pritchard
| Player | # | POS | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Age | Exp | School | How Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Haliburton | 0 | G | 6-5 | 185 lbs | Feb 29, 2000 | 26 | 5 | Iowa State | Traded from SAC on 02/08/22 |
| Obi Toppin | 1 | F | 6-9 | 220 lbs | Mar 04, 1998 | 28 | 6 | Dayton | Traded from NYK on 07/07/23 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 2 | G-F | 6-4 | 191 lbs | Jan 16, 2000 | 26 | 4 | Gonzaga | #31 Pick in 2022 Draft |
| Braden Smith | 3 | G | 6-0 | 170 lbs | Jul 25, 2003 | 23 | R | Purdue | Draft Rights Traded from CHI on 06/24/26 |
| Jarace Walker | 5 | F | 6-7 | 235 lbs | Sep 04, 2003 | 22 | 3 | Houston | Draft Rights Traded from WAS on 06/23/23 |
| T.J. McConnell | 9 | G | 6-1 | 190 lbs | Mar 25, 1992 | 34 | 11 | Arizona | Signed on 07/29/19 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 10 | F-G | 6-8 | 210 lbs | Dec 09, 1995 | 30 | 11 | Kansas | Signed on 07/07/26 |
| Johnny Furphy | 12 | G | 6-8 | 200 lbs | Dec 08, 2004 | 21 | 2 | Kansas | Draft Rights Traded from SAS on 07/06/24 |
| Jalen Slawson | 18 | F | 6-7 | 215 lbs | Oct 22, 1999 | 26 | 2 | Furman | Signed on 09/09/25 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | 22 | F-C | 6-6 | 245 lbs | Jan 01, 1993 | 33 | 11 | Wyoming | Signed on 07/09/26 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 23 | G-F | 6-5 | 215 lbs | Oct 16, 1999 | 26 | 6 | Vanderbilt | Traded from BOS on 07/09/22 |
| Kobe Brown | 24 | F | 6-7 | 250 lbs | Jan 01, 2000 | 26 | 3 | Missouri | Traded from LAC on 02/05/26 |
| Ben Sheppard | 26 | G | 6-6 | 190 lbs | Jul 16, 2001 | 25 | 3 | Belmont | #26 Pick in 2023 Draft |
| Quenton Jackson | 29 | G | 6-4 | 173 lbs | Sep 15, 1998 | 27 | 4 | Texas A&M | Signed on 03/04/24 |
| Jay Huff | 32 | C | 7-1 | 240 lbs | Aug 25, 1997 | 28 | 5 | Virginia | Traded from MEM on 07/06/25 |
| Ivica Zubac | 40 | C | 7-0 | 240 lbs | Mar 18, 1997 | 29 | 10 | Mega Basket | Traded from LAC on 02/05/26 |
| Pascal Siakam | 43 | F | 6-8 | 245 lbs | Apr 02, 1994 | 32 | 10 | New Mexico State | Traded from TOR on 01/17/24 |
Total Points
Reggie Miller
25,279
Total Assists
Reggie Miller
4,141
Total Rebounds
Dale Davis
6,006
Total Blocks
Myles Turner
1,412
Total Steals
Reggie Miller
1,505
Championship Wins
None yet
Conference Titles
2000, 2025
Division Titles
1995, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014
The Indiana Pacers 2026-27 NBA season as one of the Eastern Conference's remaining en route to their first NBA title based in Indianapolis, taking on the Central Division spot. Strengthening the roster is the focus of this season as Indiana signed wing man Kelly Oubre Jr. from Philadelphia and frontcourt man Larry Nance Jr. from Cleveland for wing and frontcourt depth, and picked up draft rights to Braden Smith from Chicago.
This guide discusses both sides of the issue: the Pacers as a franchise, and what has changed going into 2026-27.
Indiana's history can be traced back to 1967 when the franchise was established as one of the ABA's flagship franchises which joined the NBA in 1976. The team has grown into a small market team with fans who love the game and know how to play with a team first mentality over the decades. The franchise has three ABA championships to its name, but none in the NBA — and it remains the case that when the subject of the Central Division's all-time contenders comes up, it's still a point the fans and analysts note.
Reggie Miller is perhaps the most iconic figure in Pacers lore, as he defined the brand for generations of fans. Franchise history gets into the mix because there's something to build towards, whether that's an NBA title or an incremental increase that's visible, and a brand-new franchise with its first NBA title is a franchise that builds around that progression.
The Indiana Pacers are a small market team with a reputation for passionate fans and team-first basketball throughout the league. That identity affects trades, free agency, how they construct their offense, how they construct their defense, and more.
The Indiana offense is entering 2026-27 with one of the quickest in the league, always looking to get the ball up and moving, and will be bolstered by the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr. in the bench who will provide energy and two-way versatility.
The national view of a franchise also depends on a competitor. The Indiana Pacers are square with the New York Knicks, who typically get a lot of attention, and are definitely a Pacers fan's watch list.
The Indiana Pacers 2026-2027 season is built based on building the roster around depth: Indiana picked up the rights to wing man Kelly Oubre Jr. from the Philadelphia Sixers and frontcourt depth player Larry Nance Jr. from the Chicago Bulls, while drafting rights to wing man Braden Smith of the Chicago Bulls. The season will be significant because Indiana is trying to maintain its playoff successes with a larger pool of players for a long playoff run.
Behind its bruise-heavy front line, the Pacers have come back as a real threat in the East and a serious challenger to the Lakers. The 2025-26 season followed that pattern and so did the veterans they will be adding to their roster this offseason, as they continue to build their front office for a better run in the playoffs.
Coaching's Big Challenge: Keeping the team's momentum and incorporating new veteran components.
Second-Round Pick: Braden Smith (No. 38, via trade) Strengths: Pass-first point guard with high basketball IQ He was expected to play in the depths in his first year.
Smith's playmaking plays according to the Pacers' pace-and-space system, which makes him a nice ball-handler to fill up their deep rotation.
| Move | Type | Expected Impact |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. (from Philadelphia) | Free Agent | Wing scoring and athleticism |
| Larry Nance Jr. (from Cleveland) | Free Agent | Frontcourt energy and versatility |
| Kobe Brown | Free Agent | Frontcourt depth |
The significant trades and free agent moves of the offseason.
Kelly Oubre Jr., Larry Nance Jr., Kobe Brown, and Braden Smith round out the bench.
Tyrese Haliburton He is projected to keep trucking into an All-NBA-caliber point guard and potential main man in Indiana's title bid.
Pascal Siakam Must be able to score and defend in both directions as the second option for the team.
Whether the team's speed-obsessed identity will prevail over a 82-game playoff season will depend on their health and depth.
The Indiana Pacers is a Central Division team and it has one of the toughest groups in the Eastern Conference. Playoff seeding depends on the standings within each division and conference, home court advantage is based on postseason seeding, and play-in games result in a sure playoff berth or a struggle for the final playoff spot (since the inception of the play-in tournament). Rather than looking at the overall record, it's best to look at the Pacers' divisional record to gauge the effect of the roster expansion on their performance against the teams they've played most often.
The deep bench is in place and is good from year to year, Haliburton is on a path to better things and Indiana keeps going deep into the playoffs.
In-house defense comes back to bite Indiana on larger fronts, putting ceilings on their postseason potential.
Indiana has a significant offense capable enough to make a legitimate push for a title and depth for the Eastern Conference — a move that's believable — but a lack of depth in the interior is a concern in a top-tier matchup.
The NBA is constantly evolving with changes in team structures, coaching methods, and players health preparations that impact a team long before the playoffs. The Indiana Pacers' play should generate some of the following storylines:
Rosters, coaching staffs and injury situations can vary throughout the year, so try to use preseason figures as a starting point — the best way to know how the Pacers will look is to watch the games and follow the box scores as the season unfolds.
As with all NBA teams, the Indiana Pacers will start an 82-game regular season before the field of postseason teams is finalized. That workload is evenly divided between conference opponents (plus some interconference games) and a cycling rotation of interconference opponents, including some marquee games featuring the Knicks and the central division rivals. A win streak is as important as deep playoff runs for a franchise that has never won an NBA championship, and every game has a different significance.
The season consists of distinct periods:
If you're a new Pacers fan for 2026-27, knowing the history of the team isn't just trivia, it is how the current roster is covered and discussed. A team that has not won an NBA title has higher expectations than a team that has a legacy: The fans and management expect a long-term course of improvement, not pressure to win a few instant titles. This offseason's veteran additions, after all, are seen as being part of a genuine bid for a new championship, not just a rehash.
It also arms New York Knicks fans with an understanding of why the rivalry has more emotional significance for Pacers fans in particular — decades-old rivalries have greater staying power for a fan than ones that have just started.
Sports OKBet is a top sportsbook in the Philippines that features its Eastern Conference and championship futures; contenders such as Indiana will feature this on their website throughout the season.
The Pacers come into 2026-27 as a true contender in the East as they have a solid bench to support their pace-first style and are also hoping to finally secure a winning championship after three ABA titles decades ago. It's realistic to think that they'll push to the Conference Finals. for current odds and a few insights on Indiana's season.
The franchise was established in 1967 and has been one of the league's premier franchises since it joined the NBA in 1976.
The Indiana Pacers have not won any NBA championships, but they did win three ABA championships prior to the merger.
The home games of the Indiana Pacers are at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Pacers play in the Eastern Conference's Central Division.
The Indiana Pacers' biggest rivalry of the past is the New York Knicks.
In free agency, two players who had been on the verge of being cut were added to Kelly Oubre Jr. and Larry Nance Jr., as well as Kobe Brown.
Indiana drafted Braden Smith in the second round with a trade.
Yes, Indiana will be a top-4 seed in the East.
The league's most potent playmaking duo of Tyrese Haliburton and the fastest, most dynamic offense in the league.
Note on sourcing: Historical information (founding year, championship totals, arena name, rivalry) has been taken from the official NBA franchise guide series, created by the OKSports Editorial Team. The trade, draft and free agency information for 2026-27 is from NBA.com and Wikipedia's 2026-27 NBA transactions log at the time of August 2026. Lineup order, win totals, scenarios are analysis only projections.
