What happened at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last season brought back memories of the Pacers’ glory days with Paul George, David West, and Roy Hibbert. The energy, the execution, and the belief were all there again.
After reaching the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers took another big step by advancing to the 2025 NBA Finals. Coach Rick Carlisle’s squad showed heart and resilience, rallying from a 3-2 deficit against Oklahoma City to force Game 7. But their run ended painfully — both in defeat and with the loss of star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his Achilles in the first quarter of the deciding game.
Now, the road ahead looks steep.
Haliburton, entering his prime after back-to-back All-Star and All-NBA seasons, will miss the entire 2025-26 campaign. And long-time center Myles Turner, a cornerstone since 2015, left in free agency to join the rival Milwaukee Bucks. For a team that was two wins away from a championship, it’s a jarring reset.
Simply matching last season’s 50-32 record would feel like a victory. Still, with players like Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, T.J. McConnell, and Obi Toppin, the Pacers aren’t planning to take a step back. Their season opens against the reigning champion Thunder — a rematch of sorts — back at the Fieldhouse (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Carlisle spoke with NBA.com recently about how Indiana plans to stay competitive without its star guard.
NBA.com: With Haliburton out and Turner gone, how do you balance realism with keeping expectations high?
Rick Carlisle: We’ve built certain standards, and we know this season will bring unique challenges. Losing an All-NBA player and elite playmaker changes everything. But it also opens doors for others. We’ll have to find out quickly what style fits this group best. We still want to play hard, fast, and smart — just with a different makeup.
NBA.com: Last year, your defense became a real strength. Is that where you lean even more now?
Carlisle: Definitely. Defense can be a constant. Shooting comes and goes, but defensive effort, toughness, and togetherness can be there every night. That’s going to be our backbone this year.
NBA.com: Andrew Nembhard proved a lot in last year’s playoffs. How does his role change now that he’s replacing Tyrese at point guard?
Carlisle: Andrew’s special because he’s a true point guard who can also play alongside another one. He defends, makes plays, and reads the game. Without Tyrese, he’ll carry more of the load as our primary ball handler. It’s a big adjustment going from two playmakers to one.
NBA.com: Who helps share that responsibility?
Carlisle: Pascal Siakam is a big part of that. He’s not just a scorer — he can handle and create too. So if you count him, we still have two capable playmakers. We’ll keep evolving as we go.
NBA.com: With Turner and Thomas Bryant gone, how do you address the hole at center?
Carlisle: It’s going to be a collective effort. We’ve got Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, Tony Bradley, and Jay Huff. Each brings something different. I’ve had seasons where we used multiple centers consistently — it’s all about matchups and professionalism.
NBA.com: Lastly, a lot of people say the Western Conference is stacked this year. What’s your view of the East?
Carlisle: Both conferences are tough. I don’t buy into sweeping statements. Things change fast in this league. We open against OKC — that’s a challenge right away. And I think several Eastern teams will surprise people. It’s going to be competitive across the board.