2025-26 NBA Guide- Indiana Pacers

Horrific End to Indiana Pacers’ 2024-25 Season

The Indiana Pacers were the feel-good story of the 2024-25 NBA season. That statement rings true not only because of their remarkable playoff run but also due to the perseverance they showed throughout the regular season to secure home-court advantage in the postseason.

Indiana got off to a sluggish start, winning just six of its first 16 games, far below expectations for a team that had reached the Eastern Conference Finals the year before.

Injuries to Aaron Nesmith (ankle) and Andrew Nembhard (knee) didn’t help, and star guard Tyrese Haliburton, the team’s offensive engine, struggled to find his rhythm early on.

Even so, the Pacers managed to hit the All-Star break with a 30-23 record, good for fourth place in the East. In the second half of the season, their level of play skyrocketed, they went 20-9 down the stretch and locked up the No. 4 seed with a 50-32 finish.

The playoffs were a thrill ride. Indiana pulled off memorable series wins against the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks to reach the NBA Finals. Incredibly, they mounted three double-digit fourth-quarter comebacks, each after trailing by 15 or more points, to steal games along the way.

It happened again in Game 1 of the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, when Haliburton hit a dramatic game-winner after the Pacers had trailed by 15 with just nine minutes to play.

Though heavy underdogs, the Pacers pushed the series to seven games. But their fairytale run ended in heartbreak, when Haliburton tore his Achilles in the opening quarter of Game 7, and Indiana ultimately fell short.

A Silent Offseason

Indiana’s offseason was relatively uneventful on the personnel front. The biggest piece of news came off the court — veteran coach Rick Carlisle, the oldest active coach in the NBA, signed a contract extension. Carlisle has guided the Pacers to at least the conference finals in each of the past two seasons.

As for roster moves, the lone new addition was center Jay Huff, signed from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pacers also brought back Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman, both of whom missed most of last season due to injury.

In the Draft, they added guards Kam Jones (via trade with the Spurs) and Taelon Peter, though neither is expected to have a major role as a rookie.

The major loss was Myles Turner, who joined the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency. Turner had been with the Pacers since 2015, when they drafted him 11th overall, and averaged 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks over 10 seasons. He served as a defensive cornerstone throughout their recent playoff pushes.

Championship Dreams Fade, but Playoffs Still in Sight

With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season recovering from his Achilles injury, Indiana will enter a mini-rebuild and focus on developing its core while staying competitive enough to chase a playoff berth once their star guard returns.

That likely means the Pacers won’t contend for a title or a top-four seed this year. Still, the team has enough talent to remain in the playoff mix, even if it’s through the Play-In Tournament.

All Eyes on Andrew Nembhard

At 25 years old, Canadian guard Andrew Nembhard was a key contributor during last season’s playoff run. In the NBA Finals, he took on the unenviable task of defending MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, his fellow Canadian national team teammate, and held his own.

Now, with Haliburton sidelined, Nembhard will shoulder much greater responsibility as Indiana’s primary playmaker. His job is to keep the offense flowing and maintain the team’s competitiveness while the All-Star recovers.

Last season, Nembhard averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5 assists in 65 starts, all career highs. Staying healthy and consistent will be critical if Indiana hopes to earn a direct playoff spot.

Reinforcing the Paint

Improving interior play should be a major focus for the Pacers this season, especially after losing their starting center in free agency.

Indiana was one of the worst rebounding teams in the league last season, ranking second-to-last in rebounds per 100 possessions during the playoffs (40.9) and again second-worst in the regular season (41.1).

Offensive rebounds were a weakness, but defensive boards were an even bigger concern. The Pacers averaged just 32.7 defensive rebounds per game, the ninth-lowest mark in the NBA.

Other advanced stats paint a similar picture: Indiana ranked fourth-worst in contested rebounds (30 per game) and seventh-worst in points allowed in the paint (51.8 per 100 possessions).

If the Pacers want to stay competitive while Haliburton recovers, strengthening their rebounding and rim protection will be essential.