The Indiana Pacers championship chances should be high, but they seem to be written off by most people heading into the new season. The main reason is that the East has gotten dramatically better since they made it to the Finals in 2025, but another reason is Tyrese Haliburton. He suffered a torn Achilles on that run to the Finals, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time, as it happened in Game Seven of the Finals. The biggest moment, the biggest stage, a scenario that every kid dreams of, and his body betrayed him.
Indiana won’t have an easy path, that’s for sure, with the East looking as loaded as ever, and what was once the weaker conference now has the talent and contention that the West has. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now a member of the Miami Heat, which is hard to believe considering he spent his first 13 years in the league on the Milwaukee Bucks. A trade that no one saw coming was Jaylen Brown getting shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and picks. That same 76ers team that acquired Brown also added LeBron James in free agency, forming a team so talented that its egos could be its downfall.
Not to mention that Kawhi Leonard could make his way back to the Toronto Raptors, but that deal is being held up because of the scandal surrounding him. The Cleveland Cavaliers finally broke through and made their first conference finals appearance since the James era in 2018. The Detroit Pistons were the first seed just last season and look poised to get even stronger, as their young guys continue to develop. Oh yeah, and that New York Knicks team that the Pacers beat in the conference finals in their run to the 2025 Finals, they’re now NBA Champions. The Pacers ‘Championship’ championship chances are slimmer than in 2025, but not out of reach.
Those are just the top teams in the conference; we haven’t even mentioned the Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and a retooled Washington Wizards squad. Indiana has seen some change in their roster since their recent Finals run, like the addition of Ivica Zubac, who will be vital if they want to contend again. He averaged 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game across 48 total games between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Pacers. He only appeared in five games for Indiana because of a fractured rib, where he averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.
Full trade details:
Pacers received: Ivica Zubac, Kobe Brown.
Clippers received: Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick, a protected 2026 first-round pick (which became the 5th overall pick used to draft Keaton Wagler), and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick.
Expect these numbers to climb playing alongside an elite playmaker like Haliburton, who averaged 9.2 assists in 2024-25 and a career-high 10.9 assists the season prior. If Haliburton can return to form and this team stays healthy, they can most definitely contend for a championship once again. Their projected starting lineup is Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Zubac, which helps the Pacers Championship chances significantly. It’s a bit different a roster than the one that took them to the Finals, but they look to play similarly to before, which is outpacing their opponents.
2024-25 offensive stats:
Offensive Rating: 116.5 points per 100 possessions
League Rank: 9th in the NBA
Points Per Game: 117.4 PPG (7th in the NBA)
Pace: 99.9 possessions per game (7th in the NBA)
Assists Per Game: 29.2 APG
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The 2026-27 season will be a fun watch for everyone, but a bloodbath for the players, especially in a revamped Eastern Conference. The Pacers ‘Championship’ championship chances are severely increased when you consider what this team did in 2025, and now that they have a healthy Haliburton, anything is possible. Indiana can most certainly win the East again, but like most teams, that is decided on health. They’ll have their hands full, but a run back to the promised land isn’t too far-fetched.
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