Indiana Pacers: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox basketball club

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The Pacers have won three championships, in [[1970 ABA Playoffs|1970]], [[1972 ABA Playoffs|1972]], and [[1973 ABA Playoffs|1973]], all in the [[American Basketball Association|ABA]]. They also reached the [[ABA Finals]] in [[1969 ABA Playoffs|1969]] and [[1975 ABA Playoffs|1975]]. The Pacers were [[NBA]] [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference Champions]] in [[2000 NBA Finals|2000]]. The team has also won nine division titles.

For their first seven years, they played in the [[Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum]]. In 1974, they moved to the new [[Market Square Arena]] in [[downtown Indianapolis]], where they played for 25 years.

 

 

===1976–1987: Early NBA struggles===

On August 1, 2014, Paul George, who was playing in a Team USA scrimmage in preparation for the FIBA World Cup, suffered a catastrophic open fracture to his right leg (tibia and fibula) while trying to defend [[James Harden]] on a fast break. As he tried to defend Harden from advancing to the rim, George's leg caught on the stanchion of the hoop and fractured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/11298573/paul-george-suffers-apparent-serious-leg-injury-team-usa-showcase-game|title=Paul George suffers serious injury|work=ESPN|location=Las Vegas|date=August 2, 2014|access-date=December 1, 2022|last=Windhorst|first=Brian}}</ref> He was stretchered off of the court. A day later, George successfully underwent surgery. He was expected to miss the entire [[2014–15 NBA season|2014–15 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/paul-george-injury-update-broken-leg-out-for-the-season-indiana-pacers-team-usa/dm0ooocoi7wj1lyvqg3dtaso5|title=Reports: Paul George to miss entire 2014-15 season|work=Sporting News|date=August 3, 2014|last=Machir|first=Troy|access-date=December 1, 2022}}</ref> On April&nbsp;5, 2015, Paul George returned from his injury to play in a game against the [[Miami Heat]]. George shot 5 of 12 from the field and tallied two steals, two rebounds, and two assists in a winning effort. He played for fifteen minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/game/mia-vs-ind-0021401149/box-score|title=Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers Apr 5, 2015 Box Scores|publisher=NBA|date=April 5, 2015|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> After failing to reach the [[2015 NBA playoffs|2015 NBA Playoffs]], the team departed with core players [[Roy Hibbert]], [[David West (basketball)|David West]], and [[Luis Scola]]. In the [[2015 NBA draft]], the Pacers selected [[Myles Turner]] 11th overall.

 

 

The team made several off-season moves, acquiring new starters [[Jeff Teague]] and [[Thaddeus Young]], as well as key bench players [[Al Jefferson]] and [[Aaron Brooks (basketball)|Aaron Brooks]]. During the season, the Pacers waived [[Rodney Stuckey]] in order to sign former fan-favorite [[Lance Stephenson]]. The Pacers qualified to play in the 2017 [[2017 NBA playoffs|NBA Playoffs]] with a {{win-loss record|w=42|l=40}} record, which earned them the number&nbsp;7 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they were given a quick exit by the [[2016 NBA Finals|defending champions]], the [[2016–17 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]], who swept them in four games.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/playoffs/2017/04/23/lebron-james-cavs-sweep-pacers-advance-second-round-nba-playoffs/100819262/|title=LeBron James, Cavs sweep Pacers, advance to second round of NBA playoffs|work=USA Today|last=Zillgitt|first=Jeff|date=April 23, 2017|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref>

On June 30, 2017, [[Paul George]] was traded to the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] for [[Victor Oladipo]] and [[Domantas Sabonis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/news/paul-george-traded-oklahoma-city-thunder-official-release|title=Oklahoma City Thunder trade for All-Star swingman Paul George|publisher=NBA|date=July 7, 2017|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> The Pacers received heavy criticism for this trade, but it would eventually prove to be the best season of Oladipo's career, with him showing an increase in points, steals, assists, rebounds, [[free throw]] percentage, [[field goal percentage]], and [[Three-point field goal|three-point]] percentage, which resulted to winning the [[NBA Most Improved Player Award]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zucker |first1=Joseph |title=Victor Oladipo Wins 2018 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year Award |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2776585-victor-oladipo-wins-2018-nba-most-improved-player-of-the-year-award |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=January 4, 2019 |date=June 26, 2018}}</ref> Sabonis also showed an increase in points, rebounds, and assists while leading the Pacers in rebounding during the [[2017–18 NBA season|2017–18 season]]. Oladipo would be selected as a [[2018 NBA All-Star Game|2018 NBA All-Star]] reserve,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-all-star-game-2018-full-rosters-warriors-get-four-in-kemba-in-for-kristaps/|title=NBA All-Star Game 2018 full rosters: Warriors get four in; Kemba in for Kristaps|work=CBS Sports|date=February 8, 2018|access-date=November 30, 2022|first1=Colin|last1=Ward-Henninger|first2=Jack|last2=Maloney}}</ref> while Sabonis was selected to represent Team World in the [[Rising Stars Challenge]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2018-nba-rising-stars-challenge-rosters-big-presence-for-lakers-and-76ers/|title=2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenge rosters: Big presence for Lakers and 76ers|last=Barnewell|first=Chris|work=CBS Sports|date=January 24, 2018|access-date=November 30, 2022}}</ref> Oladipo ended the season leading the NBA in steals per game. The team welcomed back former Pacer [[Darren Collison]] as well as newcomers [[Bojan Bogdanović]] and [[Cory Joseph]]. The Pacers ended the season with a 48–34 record, which earned them the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Their record was a six–game improvement from last season with Paul George. The Pacers faced the [[2017–18 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] in the first round of the [[2018 NBA playoffs]] for the second year in a row. After taking a 2–1 series lead, the Pacers fell to the Cavaliers in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eppers |first1=Matt |title=Exhausted LeBron James after Cavs' seven–game series win over Pacers: 'I'm burnt right now' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/playoffs/2018/04/29/lebron-james-exhausted-cavaliers-pacers-tough-seven-game-series/563728002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=March 23, 2019 |date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>

 

 

After an active 2019 off–season, the Pacers fielded four new starters on opening night. Holdover Myles Turner was joined by reserve–turned–starter Domantas Sabonis, as well as new acquisitions [[Malcolm Brogdon]], [[T.&nbsp;J. Warren]], and [[Jeremy Lamb]], who was slated to become a top reserve once all–star guard Victor Oladipo returned from injury.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/2020_transactions.html|title=2019-20 Indiana Pacers Transactions|publisher=Basketball Reference|access-date=December 1, 2022}}</ref> The Pacers also signed reserves [[T.&nbsp;J. McConnell]] and [[Justin Holiday]], with [[Justin Holiday|Holiday]] joining his younger brother [[Aaron Holiday]] on the team. The Pacers also saw three players with the name "T.&nbsp;J." take the court in [[T. J. McConnell|McConnell]], [[T. J. Warren|Warren]], and [[T. J. Leaf|Leaf]]. in Following an 0–3 start to the season, the Pacers held a 26–15 record halfway through the season, ranking them fifth place in the Eastern Conference. [[Domantas Sabonis]] averaged a career–best 18.5&nbsp;points, 12.4&nbsp;rebounds, and 5&nbsp;assists a game. Subsequently, Sabonis was named an [[2020 NBA All-Star Game|NBA All-Star]] for the first time in his career.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyeast/2020/02/05/indiana-pacers-nba-all-star-domantas-sabonis/?sh=559a207c1199|title=The Indiana Pacers Are Well Represented At All-Star Weekend By Domantas Sabonis|date=February 5, 2020|work=Forbes|last=East|first=Tony|access-date=December 1, 2022}}</ref> Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to a foot injury and would miss the postseason.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/24/domantas-sabonis-foot-injury-nba-restart-orlando-bubble|title=Pacers C Domantas Sabonis Has 'Significant' Foot Injury, to Leave Bubble for Treatment|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=July 24, 2020|access-date=December 1, 2022|last=Selbe|first=Nick}}</ref>

 

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Notes:

* ¹ Also served as coach (1988)

* The NBA retired [[Bill Russell]]'s No.&nbsp;6 for all its member teams on August 11, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill Russell's No.&nbsp;6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA |url=https://www.nba.com/news/bill-russells-no-6-jersey-to-be-retired-throughout-nba |website=NBA.com |access-date=August 24, 2022 |date=August 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Golliver |first1=Ben |title=NBA permanently retires Bill Russell's No.&nbsp;6 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/08/11/bill-russell-nba-jersey-retirement/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=August 24, 2022 |date=August 11, 2022}}</ref>

===Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers===

{{Main|Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame}}

 

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===FIBA Hall of Famers===

{{Main|FIBA Hall of Fame}}

 

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===EuroLeague Hall of Famers===

{{Main|EuroLeague Basketball Legend Award}}

 

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| [[Point guard|G]] || 2005–2007 || 2015

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===HEBA Basketball Hall of Famers===

{{Main|Greek Basket League Hall of Fame}}

 

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===Draft picks===

{{Main|Indiana Pacers draft history}}

*[[Paul George]]&nbsp;– 2013, 2014, 2016

*[[Victor Oladipo]]&nbsp;– 2018

 

'''[[NBA All-Defensive First Team]]'''

[[Category:Basketball teams established in 1967]]

[[Category:1967 establishments in Indiana]]