Published for Pacers fans — October 2026
By Toxlay Sports Editorial Team · Last updated October 19, 2026
The Club
The Indiana Pacers are Indiana’s basketball soul. Founded in 1967 and based in Indianapolis, the Pacers play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in their famous navy and gold. They were a powerhouse of the old ABA — champions in 1970, 1972 and 1973 — and the home of Reggie Miller, one of the most feared shooters the game has ever seen. One thing has always eluded them: an NBA championship. In 2025, they came within a single game of it.
Heartbreak to Hope: Haliburton Is Back
Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tyrese Haliburton, playing through a strained calf suffered in Game 5, tore his Achilles in the first quarter. The Pacers lost the game — and then lost their star for the entire 2025-26 season. Without him, Indiana collapsed to a franchise-worst 19-63. Then, in September 2026, the words every Pacers fan waited a year to hear: “I am healthy, ready to go.”
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Best Players Right Now (2026-27 Roster)
Tyrese Haliburton, 26, Point Guard (#0) — The franchise. Averaged 18.6 points and 9.2 assists in 2024-25, made the All-NBA Third Team, and carried Indiana to the Finals. Everything runs through him.
Pascal Siakam, 32, Power Forward (#43) — Two-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion (Raptors). The veteran engine who kept the team afloat during the dark year.
Andrew Nembhard, 26, Shooting Guard (#2) — The breakout playoff performer whose fearless shot-making won games for Indiana when it mattered most.
Aaron Nesmith, 27, Small Forward (#23) — Relentless 3-and-D wing; the kind of player every contender needs.
Ivica Zubac, 29, Center (#40) — The big mid-season acquisition from the Clippers. A true rim protector and rebounder — exactly what this roster was missing.
T.J. McConnell, 34, Point Guard (#9) — The beloved backup whose energy changes games; NBA GMs voted him one of the players most likely to become a great coach.
Kelly Oubre Jr., 30, Forward (#10) — New addition from Philadelphia, where he averaged 14.1 points last season. Instant scoring off the bench.
Obi Toppin, 28, Forward (#1) — Pure athleticism and highlight dunks; a spark plug for the second unit.
Head coach: Rick Carlisle — Sixth season in charge. In the 2026 GM survey he earned league-best marks for in-game adjustments (30%) and running the best offense (47%).
Last Season (2025-26): The Tank Year
No way to sugarcoat it: 19-63, 14th in the East, the two longest losing streaks in franchise history. But context matters — this was a season played entirely without Haliburton, and the front office made it clear they were punting the year to retool for his return.
This Season (2026-27): The Leap
Nobody in the NBA is projected to improve more than Indiana: Vegas set the win total at 44.5 — a 25-win jump — and NBA general managers voted the Pacers the team most likely to improve (43% of votes). Projected starters: Haliburton, Nembhard, Nesmith, Siakam, Zubac. The preseason has already delivered drama: a 128-127 thriller against the Milwaukee Bucks on October 17. The bounce-back is officially on.
Biggest Rivalries — The Wars
1. New York Knicks — THE classic. Reggie Miller vs. the Knicks defined 1990s playoff basketball (the choke sign at Madison Square Garden lives forever). With the Knicks now East favorites, the rivalry is burning again.
2. Milwaukee Bucks — Central Division blood feud. These two just played a 128-127 preseason classic, and they’ll see plenty of each other all season.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder — The freshest wound in basketball: Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. Every Pacers fan remembers where they were.
4. Chicago Bulls — The geographic war. Short flight, loud arenas, decades of Central Division bad blood.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Pacers go 19-63 in 2025-26?
Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and missed the entire season. The front office openly punted the year to retool for his return.
When the Pacers play the Bucks in 2026-27?
The two Central rivals just met in a 128-127 preseason thriller on October 17, and they will see plenty of each other in the regular season.
Who are the best Pacers players right now?
Tyrese Haliburton (healthy and back), Pascal Siakam and breakout playoff performer Andrew Nembhard.
Are the Pacers expected to improve this season?
NBA general managers voted Indiana the team most likely to improve (43% of votes), and Vegas set the win total at 44.5 — a 25-win jump.
Show Your Colors
True fans wear it. If you bleed navy and gold, gear up with quality fan sportswear — jerseys, tees and athletic wear built for real supporters:
Shop Fan Sportswear at Toxlay Sports →
Sources & official links: Indiana Pacers official site · Indiana Pacers tickets
Basketball lives here — and so does the comeback.
