History of the Indiana Pacers facts for kids

The Indiana Pacers started on February 2, 1967, as a team in the American Basketball Association (ABA). Later, in 1976, they joined the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers were a very strong team in the ABA, winning three championships and six conference titles. Today, the Pacers play in the Eastern Conference and Central Division of the NBA. Their home games are played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers have had some good times in the NBA, especially when Reggie Miller was playing. They have made the NBA Playoffs 27 times out of 44 years and reached the NBA Finals once, but they have never won an NBA championship.

The Pacers' Early Years: ABA Champions (1967–1976)

In 1967, a group of people including Richard Tinkham and Chuck Barnes decided to buy a basketball team for a new league called the American Basketball Association. They named the team the "Pacers." This name came from two things: Indiana's history with harness racing (where horses are called "pacers") and the pace car used at the famous Indianapolis 500 race.

The team decided to be called the Indiana Pacers, not the Indianapolis Pacers, because they planned to play games all over the state, even though their main home was in Indianapolis.

For their first seven years, the Pacers played at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, which is now called the Pepsi Coliseum. In 1974, they moved to a newer arena downtown called Market Square Arena, where they played for 25 years.

During their second season, Bob "Slick" Leonard, a former college star from Indiana, became the head coach. He quickly made the Pacers a powerful team. Great players like Mel Daniels, George McGinnis, Freddie Lewis, and Roger Brown helped the team succeed.

The Indiana Pacers were one of only two teams that stayed in the ABA for its entire nine-year history without moving or changing their name. They were also the most successful team, reaching the ABA Finals five times and winning three championships in just four years. No other ABA team achieved this much success.

Joining the NBA: Early Challenges (1976–1987)

In 1976, the Pacers were one of four ABA teams that joined the NBA when the two leagues merged. The other teams were the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, and San Antonio Spurs.

First NBA Season: A Tough Start (1976–1977)

Joining the NBA was very expensive for the Pacers. Each former ABA team had to pay a large fee. The Pacers also had to help pay the two ABA teams that didn't join the NBA. Plus, the new NBA teams couldn't share in national TV money for four years.

Because of these high costs, the Pacers faced serious money problems. A group of local businesses had to donate money to keep the team going. The team even announced that they might have to move unless they sold 8,000 season tickets by July 1977. A local TV station held a long telethon to help, and just before it ended, they announced that the team had reached its goal! This support from fans helped the team's attendance grow a lot.

In their first NBA season, the Pacers finished with 36 wins and 46 losses. Billy Knight and Don Buse were chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Game, which was a bright spot. For the next 13 years, the Pacers struggled, having only one winning season and making the playoffs just twice.

Trading Stars and Publicity Stunts (1977–1980)

The Pacers often traded away their best players. For example, they traded Knight and Buse before the next season. They even tried out a women's basketball star, Ann Meyers, in 1979. She was the first and only woman to try out for an NBA team, but she didn't make the final team. This was a way to get fans interested during tough times.

Tough Trades and First Playoff Win (1980–1987)

The Pacers made some trades that didn't work out well. In 1980, they traded Alex English, who became a great scorer, to get back an older star, George McGinnis, who didn't play much. The next year, they traded a future draft pick for a player who didn't help much. This was a big mistake because that draft pick could have been used to pick future stars like Michael Jordan or Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984.

The Pacers made their first NBA playoff appearance in 1981 but lost quickly. They didn't make the playoffs again until 1987. In 1982, they drafted Clark Kellogg, who showed great promise. In 1986, Jack Ramsay became coach and led the team to a 41-41 record and their second NBA playoff appearance. Chuck Person, known as "The Rifleman" for his long-range shots, was a rookie star that year. The Pacers won their first NBA playoff game in team history against the Atlanta Hawks but lost the series.

The Reggie Miller Era: Becoming a Household Name (1987–2005)

UCLA star Reggie Miller was drafted by the Pacers in 1987. Many fans were surprised by this choice. The Pacers missed the playoffs in 1988 and had a very bad season in 1989. However, they made a good trade, getting Detlef Schrempf, who later became a top player.

Playoff Appearances and New Uniforms (1989–1992)

In 1990, the Pacers made the playoffs again, but they were swept by the Detroit Pistons, who went on to win the NBA Championship. Reggie Miller became an All-Star that year.

In 1991, the Pacers returned to the playoffs with a 41-41 record. They had an exciting series against the strong Boston Celtics, pushing them to five games before losing. That season, the Pacers also changed their team logo and got new uniforms designed by Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner. The Pacers met the Celtics again in the 1992 playoffs but were swept this time.

Miller's Rise to Stardom (1992–1995)

In 1992, the Pacers traded some players and Detlef Schrempf became a starter and an All-Star. Reggie Miller became the Pacers' all-time leading scorer in the NBA era. The Pacers made the playoffs in 1993 but lost to the New York Knicks.

In 1993, Larry Brown became the Pacers' coach. The team made a trade that was criticized at first, sending Schrempf away for Derrick McKey. But the Pacers finished the 1994 season strong with 47 wins, their best NBA record yet. They swept Shaquille O'Neal and the Orlando Magic for their first NBA playoff series win. Then, they upset the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks.

It was during the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks that Reggie Miller became famous. In Game 5, with the Pacers far behind in the fourth quarter, Miller scored 25 points, including five three-pointers, to lead an amazing comeback win. Miller also famously made a "choke" sign to Knicks fans. The Knicks won the series, but Reggie became an NBA superstar.

In 1994, Mark Jackson joined the team, giving them a steady point guard. The Pacers had a great season in 1995, winning 52 games and their first Central Division title. They swept the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Then, they faced the rival New York Knicks again. In Game 1, with the Pacers down by six points with only 16.4 seconds left, Miller scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to win the game! The Pacers beat the Knicks in seven games and pushed the Magic to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals before losing.

Injuries and a New Coach (1995–1997)

The Pacers had another 52-win season in 1996, but Reggie Miller got a serious eye injury in April. He returned for Game 5 of their playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 29 points, but the Pacers lost. This team did make history by being the only team to beat the amazing Chicago Bulls (who had a 72-10 record) twice that year.

In 1997, the Pacers faced many injuries and missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. After this, coach Larry Brown left the team.

Larry Bird as Coach and NBA Finals Appearance (1997–2000)

For the 1997–98 season, the Pacers chose basketball legend Larry Bird to be their coach. Under Bird, the team had a fantastic season, winning a new franchise record of 58 games! Chris Mullin joined the team and became an important player. Reggie Miller and Rik Smits both made the All-Star team. In the playoffs, the Pacers easily beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. They then had an exciting seven-game series against the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, but they lost.

In the shortened 1998–99 season, the Pacers won their division. They swept the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers before losing to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals. In the 1999–2000 season, the Pacers had a 56-26 record. They survived tough playoff series against the Bucks and 76ers. Finally, they beat the New York Knicks in six games to reach the NBA Finals for the first time!

Their first NBA Finals was against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were too strong and won the championship in six games. However, the Pacers did give Los Angeles their biggest playoff loss at that time, winning Game Five by 33 points.

Rebuilding and New Stars (2000–2003)

After the Finals, many changes happened. Rik Smits and coach Larry Bird retired. Other key players left. The Pacers traded Dale Davis for Jermaine O'Neal, who quickly became a star. Under new coach Isiah Thomas, the team was rebuilding but still made the playoffs in 2001, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers.

In 2002, the Pacers made a big trade, getting Brad Miller and Ron Artest. Both of these players would later become All-Stars for the Pacers. This trade helped the team improve and return to the playoffs, where they pushed the New Jersey Nets to five games before losing in double overtime. Jermaine O'Neal made his first All-Star appearance, proving that trading for him was a great decision.

The Pacers started the 2002–03 season very well, but they struggled later due to player suspensions and family issues. Still, O'Neal and Brad Miller made the All-Star team, and the Pacers finished with a much better record of 48-34. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

Best Record and a Difficult Season (2003–2005)

In 2003, the Pacers re-signed Jermaine O'Neal and Reggie Miller. Larry Bird returned as team president and hired Rick Carlisle as the new coach. The Pacers had an amazing 2003–04 season, finishing with a 61-21 record, which was the best in the entire NBA and a new team record! O'Neal and Artest made the All-Star team, and Artest was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.

In the playoffs, the Pacers easily swept the Boston Celtics and then beat the Miami Heat. But the Detroit Pistons stopped their championship hopes, defeating the Pacers in six games on their way to winning the NBA Championship.

Before the 2004–05 season, Al Harrington was traded for Stephen Jackson. The Pacers started the season very strong, but then a famous event happened on November 19, 2004.

The Auburn Hills Incident

Near the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons, a fight broke out involving players and fans. Several players were suspended by the NBA Commissioner, David Stern. Ron Artest received the longest suspension in NBA history, missing the rest of the season and playoffs (73 games). Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games, and Jermaine O'Neal for 25 games (later reduced to 15).

After the suspensions, the Pacers struggled. They went from being a top team to just an average one. Despite these challenges, the Pacers still made the playoffs as the sixth seed. They were helped by the return of Dale Davis.

In the first round of the 2005 playoffs, Indiana defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games. They then advanced to play the Detroit Pistons again, a rematch of the previous year's Eastern Conference Finals. The series included games back at the arena where the fight happened. The Pacers took a 2-1 lead but lost the next three games, losing the series 4-2.

The final game of the series was on May 19, 2005. Reggie Miller, playing his last NBA game, scored 27 points and received a huge standing ovation from the crowd. Despite his effort, the Pacers lost, and Miller retired without an NBA Championship after 18 years, all with the Pacers. His #31 jersey was retired by the Pacers on March 30, 2006.

A Period of Change (2005–2010)

The 2005–06 season started with more changes. In December 2005, Ron Artest publicly said he wanted to be traded, which led to him being fined and eventually traded to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojaković. Jermaine O'Neal also missed two months due to injury. The Pacers finished the season with a 41-41 record and made the playoffs for the 14th time in 15 years. They won Game 1 against the New Jersey Nets but lost the series in six games.

The 2006 offseason brought many roster changes. The Pacers traded Peja Stojaković and later re-acquired Al Harrington. They also traded Austin Croshere and Anthony Johnson.

The 2006–07 season was one of the worst in team history, with a 35-47 record. Injuries, poor defense, and a lack of offense led to an 11-game losing streak. The Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1997. In January 2007, the Pacers made a big trade, sending Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson to the Golden State Warriors for Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy Jr..

On April 25, 2007, coach Rick Carlisle was fired. Jim O'Brien was named the new head coach, promising a faster style of play.

The 2007–08 season saw the Pacers miss the playoffs again, but there were signs of improvement. Young players like Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy Jr. showed great growth. Both were considered for the Most Improved Player award.

In 2008, Donnie Walsh, who had been a key leader for the Pacers, left to join the New York Knicks. Larry Bird took over his basketball duties. The Pacers also made more trades, sending Jermaine O'Neal to the Toronto Raptors for T. J. Ford and Roy Hibbert. They also traded for Jarrett Jack and Brandon Rush.

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Pacers drafted Tyler Hansbrough and A. J. Price. They also signed defensive players like Dahntay Jones. Co-owner Melvin Simon passed away in 2009, and the team wore "Mel" patches in his honor.

During the 2009–10 season, Tyler Hansbrough suffered a season-ending injury, and the Pacers missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. However, the team showed improvement near the end of the season.

A New Era Begins (2010–Present)

New Players and a High-Scoring Game (2010–2011)

The 2010 NBA Draft brought new talent to the Pacers, including Paul George and Lance Stephenson. The Pacers also traded for point guard Darren Collison, hoping he would be a stable leader for the team.

In the 2010–11 season, the Pacers had an amazing game against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 54 points in just one quarter! This was a franchise record and showed their offensive power.

Close Calls and MVP Candidates (2012–2014)

In the 2012–13 season, led by Paul George, the Pacers almost beat the Miami Heat in the conference finals, losing by just one game. Key players like Roy Hibbert and David West were very important in that series.

The Pacers had their best season in years in 2013–14, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Paul George led the team, averaging over 20 points per game, along with many rebounds and assists. He was considered a candidate for the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Injuries and Returns (2014–2016)

Before the 2014–15 season, Paul George suffered a very serious leg injury. This greatly hurt the team's chances, and the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

In 2015–16, a healthy Paul George returned and led the Pacers back to the playoffs. New players like Monta Ellis and rookie Myles Turner also played well. Paul George had a great playoff performance, but the Pacers lost in seven games to the Toronto Raptors. After this, coach Frank Vogel's contract was not extended.

New Coaches and Player Changes (2016–2021)

Nate McMillan was promoted to head coach for the 2016–17 season. Before the 2017–18 season, the Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. Led by Victor Oladipo, the Pacers had a strong 48-34 record in 2017–18 and the following season.

Under McMillan, the Pacers made the playoffs all four seasons, but they struggled to win playoff series. McMillan was fired in October 2020. Nate Bjorkgren was hired as the new head coach, but the team had a disappointing 2020–21 season and Bjorkgren was fired after just one year.

Rick Carlisle Returns (2021–Present)

On June 24, 2021, Rick Carlisle returned to coach the Pacers, a role he had held from 2003 to 2006. His first season back was seen as a transition year. Midway through the season, the Pacers traded All-Star Domantas Sabonis for Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield.

2022 In the 2022 draft, the Pacers picked Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. Both rookies had a strong impact on the team. The Pacers showed great progress in the following season, thanks to the play of Haliburton, Hield, Mathurin, and Nembhard.

2023 In the 2023 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, Mojave King, and Isaiah Wong.