70 Fun Facts About Indiana Pacers

In which year were the Pacers founded as an original member of the ABA?

The Pacers were founded in 1967 as a charter ABA franchise and played nine ABA seasons before the 1976 merger brought them into the NBA.

What name did the Pacers' home arena, opened in 1999, take in 2021?

The building opened in 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse and became Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2011; Gainbridge is an Indianapolis-based financial platform.

The team name 'Pacers' was inspired by which piece of Indiana history?

The name nods both to the pace cars that lead the field at the Indianapolis 500 and to Indiana's harness-racing tradition.

How many ABA championships did the Pacers win?

The Pacers won three ABA championships, in 1970, 1972 and 1973, the most of any franchise in the league's nine-year history.

By 2026, in which two years had the Pacers reached the NBA Finals?

The Pacers reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and 2025 and lost both times, in six games in 2000 and in a deciding seventh game in 2025.

Which ABA franchise was NOT among the four that joined the NBA alongside the Pacers in the 1976 merger?

The Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis were left out and had to be compensated by the four surviving teams.

How much was the NBA entry fee charged to each former ABA team, including the Pacers, in 1976?

Each of the four ABA clubs paid a $3.2 million entry fee and initially received no NBA national television revenue, a burden that left the Pacers needing a 1977 telethon to survive.

Which coach has the most wins in franchise history, with 529 over 12 seasons?

Bobby 'Slick' Leonard coached the Pacers from 1968 to 1980, winning every ABA championship in franchise history, and later spent decades as the team's radio color analyst.

Which future scoring great did the Pacers trade to Denver in 1980 to reacquire an aging George McGinnis?

English went on to become one of the highest scorers of the 1980s, while McGinnis contributed little in his two-year return.

Which player did Portland select second overall with the 1984 pick from the Pacers' Tom Owens trade?

Portland used the Pacers' pick on center Sam Bowie at No. 2 in 1984, with Michael Jordan yet to be picked; leg injuries derailed Bowie's career.

Which Pacers rookie, nicknamed 'The Rifleman', won NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986–87?

Chuck Person, nicknamed 'The Rifleman', averaged 18.8 points as a rookie to win 1986-87 Rookie of the Year, the season of the franchise's first NBA playoff win.

Reggie Miller was drafted by the Pacers in 1987 out of which college?

Reggie Miller played four seasons at UCLA, leaving as the Bruins' second-leading career scorer at the time, before the Pacers took him 11th overall in 1987.

Fans were upset the Pacers drafted Reggie Miller in 1987 instead of which Indiana University star?

Alford had just led Indiana to the 1987 NCAA title, and Miller was booed by some fans on draft night.

Which 7-foot-4 center did the Pacers select in the 1988 NBA draft?

Rik Smits, the 7-foot-4 'Dunking Dutchman' from Marist College, went second overall in 1988 and spent all 12 of his NBA seasons with the Pacers.

In 1989 the Pacers traded Herb Williams to Dallas for which future Sixth Man of the Year?

Schrempf later became a starter and All-Star in Indiana before being dealt to Seattle in 1993.

Reggie Miller's 1994 'choke sign' was aimed at which Knicks celebrity fan?

Reggie Miller flashed the choke sign at Spike Lee at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the 1994 East finals, scoring 25 fourth-quarter points to win the game.

In Game 1 of the 1995 East semifinals, Reggie Miller scored eight points in how many seconds?

Reggie Miller's eight points in 8.9 seconds turned a 105-99 deficit with 16.4 seconds left into a 107-105 Pacers win; Indiana went on to take the series in seven.

The 1995–96 Pacers were the only team to beat which record-setting 72–10 club twice that season?

The Chicago Bulls' ten losses in 1995-96 included two to Indiana, the only club to beat them twice; the Pacers then lost in the first round after Reggie Miller fractured his eye socket.

Who was hired as the Pacers' head coach in 1997?

Larry Bird, a French Lick native, took over in 1997, improved the Pacers by 19 wins in his first season, was named Coach of the Year, and reached the NBA Finals in his third and final season.

Which team defeated the Pacers in six games in the 2000 NBA Finals?

The Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana in six games in the 2000 Finals, the first title of the Shaq-and-Kobe dynasty, with Shaquille O'Neal named Finals MVP.

By how many points did the Pacers win Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals?

The Pacers won Game 5 120-87 in Indianapolis, a 33-point margin, to cut the series deficit to 3-2 before losing Game 6 on the road.

Which Hall of Fame Pistons point guard coached the Pacers from 2000 to 2003?

Isiah Thomas went 131-115 as Pacers coach, reaching the playoffs each year but never winning a series, before being dismissed in 2003.

Which Pacers forward went to Portland in the 2000 trade that brought Jermaine O'Neal?

Dale Davis, fresh off his only All-Star appearance, was sent to Portland that August for Jermaine O'Neal, who went on to make six All-Star teams with the Pacers.

The 2002 trade that brought Ron Artest and Brad Miller to Indiana sent which Fab Five member to the Bulls?

Jalen Rose, Travis Best and Norman Richardson went to Chicago in the February 2002 deal, which brought Ron Mercer and Kevin Ollie to Indiana alongside the two headliners.

What was the Pacers' record in 2003–04, the best in the NBA that season and a franchise record?

The Pacers went 61–21 in 2003-04, a franchise record and the NBA's best mark that season, before losing the East finals in six games.

The 'Malice at the Palace' brawl on November 19, 2004, took place during a game against which team?

The Detroit Pistons were hosting the Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills; the game was called off with 45.9 seconds left as Indiana led 97-82 and left the floor under a shower of drinks.

How many games was Ron Artest suspended for the 2004 brawl, then the NBA's longest on-court suspension?

Ron Artest was suspended for the remaining 73 regular-season games plus the playoffs; Stephen Jackson got 30 games and Jermaine O'Neal 25, later cut to 15 by an arbitrator.

What was the name of the Pistons fan who threw a cup of Diet Coke at Ron Artest?

John Green threw the cup that hit Ron Artest and then punched him in the stands; Green was banned from the arena and convicted of assault and battery.

Which jersey number did the Pacers retire for Reggie Miller in March 2006?

Reggie Miller's No. 31 went to the rafters on March 30, 2006; he played all 18 of his NBA seasons in Indiana and scored 27 points in his final game, a 2005 playoff loss.

In 2005–06 the Pacers traded Ron Artest to Sacramento in exchange for which sharpshooting forward?

Stojaković spent only half a season in Indiana before leaving for New Orleans in free agency.

Which center did the Pacers receive in the 2008 trade of Jermaine O'Neal?

Roy Hibbert, a Georgetown center drafted in the first round in 2008, came to Indiana in the Jermaine O'Neal deal and became a two-time All-Star anchoring the 2013 and 2014 East finals teams.

With which pick did the Pacers select Paul George in the 2010 NBA draft?

Paul George went 10th overall in 2010 out of Fresno State, and he made four All-Star teams in seven seasons with Indiana before being traded in 2017.

On November 9, 2010, the Pacers set a franchise record by scoring how many points in one quarter against Denver?

The Pacers poured in 54 points in the third quarter against Denver on November 9, 2010, shooting 20-for-21, four shy of the NBA single-quarter record of 58.

Which Pacer famously blew into LeBron James's ear during Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference finals?

Lance Stephenson blew into LeBron James's ear in Game 5 of the 2014 East finals; the Pacers won that game to stave off elimination but lost Game 6 in Miami.

Paul George's 2014 leg fracture happened in a Team USA scrimmage while defending which player on a fast break?

Paul George was chasing James Harden on a fast break in the August 2014 Las Vegas scrimmage when his leg caught the stanchion; he played just six games in 2014-15.

Which coach was promoted to replace Frank Vogel after the Pacers declined to renew his contract in 2016?

McMillan went 183–136 over four seasons before parting ways with the team in 2020, two weeks after receiving an extension.

In 2017 the Pacers traded Paul George to the Thunder for Domantas Sabonis and which guard?

The much-criticised deal paid off immediately: Oladipo won Most Improved Player and led the NBA in steals in 2017–18.

Which sharpshooter broke Reggie Miller's franchise record for three-pointers made in a season in 2022–23?

Buddy Hield made 288 triples in 2022-23, shattering the Pacers' single-season mark of 229 set by Reggie Miller in 1996-97.

Tyrese Haliburton's 2023 max extension with the Pacers was worth up to how much over five years?

Tyrese Haliburton signed a five-year rookie-scale max extension in July 2023 projected at up to $260 million, with the top figure tied to making an All-NBA team, which he did the following season.

From which team did the Pacers acquire Pascal Siakam in a January 2024 three-team deal?

Pascal Siakam, a 2019 champion with the Toronto Raptors, came to Indiana for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr. and a trio of first-round picks.

The Pacers' home arena hosted the NBA All-Star Weekend in which year?

Indianapolis hosted the 2024 All-Star Game at the Pacers' home arena, where Tyrese Haliburton was voted an Eastern Conference starter; the East won 211-186.

Which team did the Pacers beat 162–109 in March 2025 to set their NBA franchise scoring record?

The Pacers routed the Washington Wizards 162-109 on March 13, 2025, a franchise scoring record, in the same season the team reached the NBA Finals.

Which team beat the Pacers in seven games in the 2025 NBA Finals?

The Oklahoma City Thunder took Game 7 103-91 at home, the first Finals Game 7 since 2016, after Indiana had led 2-1 and forced a decider with a Game 6 win.

What injury did Tyrese Haliburton suffer in the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 Finals?

Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his right leg early in the first quarter of Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, having played through a calf strain, and was ruled out for the whole 2025-26 season.

After his 2023 In-Season Tournament semifinal game-winner, Haliburton mimicked whose 'Dame Time' wrist-tap?

Tyrese Haliburton tapped his wrist, Damian Lillard's 'Dame Time' celebration, after a late dagger in the Pacers' 128-119 semifinal win in Las Vegas, and finished with a triple-double.

After ten seasons in Indiana, center Myles Turner left in 2025 to sign with which division rival?

Myles Turner, the Pacers' longest-tenured player, signed a four-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks that July; Indiana's front office said it never got a chance to match.

What kind of animal is Boomer, the Pacers' mascot since 1991–92?

Boomer is a blue panther who has been the Pacers' mascot since the 1991-92 season; a dog named Bowser was his sidekick for several years before being retired.

Which Pacers center was named ABA Most Valuable Player twice?

Mel Daniels won the ABA Most Valuable Player award in 1969 and 1971 with Indiana, and his No. 34 was later retired by the Pacers.

In 2015–16 the Pacers wore maroon-and-gold 'Hickory' alternate uniforms based on which film?

The uniforms copied the Hickory Huskers from the 1986 film Hoosiers, itself inspired by tiny Milan High School's 1954 Indiana state title.

Which Olympic track star designed the Pacers' uniforms worn from 1990 to 1997?

Sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, a triple gold medallist at the 1988 Olympics, designed the Pacers' 1990-97 uniforms, whose drop-shadow numbers became the look of the Reggie Miller era.

The Pacers' original blue and yellow team colours were taken from what?

The blue and gold came from the flag of Indiana, a gold torch and stars on a blue field; the palette later darkened to navy and gold.

Michael Jordan's first game back from his first retirement, in 1995, was played in which Pacers venue?

Jordan's 'I'm back' return on March 19, 1995, came at Market Square Arena, the Pacers' home from 1974 to 1999; Indiana won 103-96 in overtime.

Which Pacers Hall of Famer had his No. 35 retired by the team?

Roger Brown, the Pacers' first-ever signing and MVP of the 1970 ABA playoffs, had his No. 35 retired and entered the Hall of Fame in 2013.

What is the nickname of the WNBA team that shares the Pacers' home arena?

The Indiana Fever, owned by Herb Simon through Pacers Sports & Entertainment, have played in the Pacers' downtown arena since their first WNBA season.

The Pacers' first NBA playoff series win came in a 1994 first-round sweep of which team?

The Pacers swept the Orlando Magic 3-0 in the 1994 first round, then upset top-seeded Atlanta before losing a seven-game East finals in New York.

Which coach, rehired in 2021, had also led the Pacers from 2003 to 2007?

Rick Carlisle, a Pacers assistant in the late 1990s, coached Indiana from 2003 to 2007, won the 2011 title with Dallas, and returned as head coach in 2021.

Who became the first female assistant coach in Pacers history in 2021?

Jenny Boucek, a former WNBA head coach in Sacramento and Seattle, joined the Pacers' staff from Dallas in 2021 as the first woman to coach on the Indiana bench.

Which pick did the Pacers use on Bennedict Mathurin in the 2022 draft?

Bennedict Mathurin went sixth overall in 2022 out of Arizona and averaged 16.7 points as a rookie, earning All-Rookie First Team honours.

Where did the Pacers play their home games for their first seven seasons, 1967 to 1974?

The Pacers played at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum, built in 1939, for their first seven seasons and won every one of their ABA championships there.

Which team did the Pacers beat in the 1972 ABA Finals?

The Pacers beat Rick Barry's New York Nets four games to two in the 1972 ABA Finals for their second league championship.

Whom did Slick Leonard replace as head coach early in the Pacers' second season?

Larry Staverman, the Pacers' first head coach, went 38-40 in the franchise's first season and was dismissed after a poor start to the next one; his replacement built the ABA's dominant franchise.

Which prolific scorer did the Pacers acquire for Billy Knight in 1977, only to trade him that December?

Adrian Dantley came from Buffalo for Billy Knight in September 1977, averaged 26.5 points in 23 games, and was traded again that December for center James Edwards.

Which 1982 Pacers draftee finished second in Rookie of the Year voting?

Clark Kellogg, the eighth pick in 1982, averaged 20.1 points as a rookie and finished runner-up to Terry Cummings for Rookie of the Year before knee injuries cut his career short.

Which point guard did the Pacers acquire from the Clippers before their 52-30 season in 1994-95?

Mark Jackson arrived from the Clippers in June 1994 for Pooh Richardson and Malik Sealy and ran the offense as Indiana won its first Central Division title in 1994-95.

What was the Pacers' regular-season record in 1997-98?

Indiana went 58-24 in 1997-98, a 19-game jump from the previous year and the most wins in the franchise's NBA history to that point.

Which draft pick did the Pacers receive from Toronto for forward Antonio Davis before the 1999-2000 season?

Jonathan Bender, the fifth pick in 1999 straight out of high school, came to Indiana for Antonio Davis that August, but chronic knee problems wrecked his career.

Whom did the Pacers trade to Sacramento in 2003 for Scot Pollard after they could not afford to keep him?

Brad Miller, a 2003 All-Star, was sent to Sacramento in a sign-and-trade that August for Scot Pollard because the Pacers could not afford his new contract.

Danny Granger was selected by the Pacers with which pick in the 2005 NBA draft?

Danny Granger slid to the Pacers at 17th in 2005 out of New Mexico and later won the 2009 Most Improved Player award while averaging 25.8 points.

Who was named interim head coach when the Pacers dismissed Jim O'Brien on January 30, 2011?

Frank Vogel, then an assistant, took over on an interim basis in January 2011, went 20-18, was made permanent that July and later reached back-to-back East finals.

On draft night in 2011, the Pacers acquired which guard from the San Antonio Spurs?

George Hill, an Indianapolis native, came from San Antonio on draft night 2011 for the rights to 15th pick Kawhi Leonard, a trade the Spurs won handily.