The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers were founded in 1967, originally as members of the American Basketball Association, where they were crowned league champions three times and made the playoffs in all of the nine seasons they participated in the league. They had five appearances in the ABA Finals during those nine years. The Pacers were led during the ABA days by two-time MVP Mel Daniels and by head coach Bobby Leonard.
The 1976–77 season marked the first season of NBA play for the Pacers and the team struggled early, compared to their ABA success. The Pacers only made it to the NBA playoffs three times in their first 13 seasons. The Pacers would not win their first playoff series until the 1993–94 season, which came against the Orlando Magic. It was during this time that the Pacers were led by 1987 draft pick, Reggie Miller, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. Miller would play for the Pacers until the 2005 season and with his help, the Pacers would go on to win one Eastern Conference championship, four Central Division championships, and make 15 playoff appearances.
Over the Pacers' 58 seasons of play they have made the playoffs 38 times (29 in the NBA and nine in the ABA). The Pacers have appeared in the NBA Eastern Conference finals 10 times (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2025). They played in the 2000 NBA Finals against Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers, and again in the 2025 NBA Finals against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers are one of 10 franchises to have never won an NBA championship and the only Central Division team without at least one championship title.
Table key
ASG MVPAll-Star Game Most Valuable PlayerCOYCoach of the YearFinishFinal position in league or division standingsGBGames behind first-place team in divisionLossesNumber of regular season lossesEOYExecutive of the YearJWKCJ. Walter Kennedy CitizenshipMVPMost Valuable PlayerROYRookie of the YearSMOYSixth Man of the YearWinsNumber of regular season winsWin%Winning percentage
Seasons ABA champions NBA champions Conference championsDivision championsPlayoff berthPlay-in berth Season League Conference Finish Division Finish W L Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head coach 1967–68 ABA — — Eastern 3rd 38 40 .487 16 Lost division semifinals (Pipers) 3–0Larry Staverman 1968–69 ABA — — Eastern 1st 44 34 .564 — Won division semifinals (Colonels) 4–3Won division finals (Floridians) 4–1Lost ABA Finals (Oaks) 4–1 Mel Daniels (MVP)Larry StavermanBobby Leonard 1969–70 ABA — — Eastern 1st 59 25 .702 — Won division semifinals (Cougars) 4–0Won division finals (Colonels) 4–1Won ABA Finals (Stars) 4–2 Roger Brown (PMVP) Bobby Leonard 1970–71 ABA — — Western 1st 58 26 .690 — Won division semifinals (Pros) 4–0Lost division finals (Stars) 4–3 Mel Daniels (MVP, ASG MVP) 1971–72 ABA — — Western 2nd 47 37 .560 13 Won division semifinals (Rockets) 4–3Won division finals (Stars) 4–3Won ABA Finals (Nets) 4–2 Freddie Lewis (PMVP) 1972–73 ABA — — Western 2nd 51 33 .607 4 Won division semifinals (Rockets) 4–1Won division finals (Stars) 4–2Won ABA Finals (Colonels) 4–3 George McGinnis (PMVP) 1973–74 ABA — — Western 2nd 46 38 .548 5 Won division semifinals (Spurs) 4–3Lost division finals (Stars) 4–3 1974–75 ABA — — Western 3rd 45 39 .536 20 Won division semifinals (Spurs) 4–2Won division finals (Nuggets) 4–3Lost ABA Finals (Colonels) 4–1George McGinnis (MVP) 1975–76 ABA — — — 5th 39 45 .464 21 Lost first round (Colonels) 2–1 1976–77 NBA Western 9th Midwest 5th 36 46 .439 14 — 1977–78NBA Western 10th Midwest 5th 31 51 .378 17 — 1978–79NBA Western 8th Midwest 3rd 38 44 .463 10 — 1979–80NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 37 45 .451 13 — 1980–81NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 44 38 .537 16 Lost first round (76ers) 2–0Jack McKinney (COY) Jack McKinney 1981–82NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 35 47 .427 20 — 1982–83NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 20 62 .244 31 — 1983–84NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 26 56 .317 24 — 1984–85NBA Eastern 11th Central 6th 22 60 .268 37 — George Irvine 1985–86NBA Eastern 10th Central 6th 26 56 .317 31 — 1986–87NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 41 41 .500 16 Lost first round (Hawks) 3–1Chuck Person (ROY) Jack Ramsay 1987–88NBA Eastern 9th Central 6th 38 44 .463 16 — 1988–89NBA Eastern 10th Central 6th 28 54 .341 35 —Jack RamsayMel DanielsGeorge IrvineDick Versace 1989–90NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 42 40 .512 17 Lost first round (Pistons) 3–0Dick Versace 1990–91NBA Eastern 7th Central 5th 41 41 .500 20 Lost first round (Celtics) 3–2Detlef Schrempf (SIX)Dick VersaceBob Hill 1991–92NBA Eastern 7th Central 4th 40 42 .488 27 Lost first round (Celtics) 3–0Detlef Schrempf (SIX) Bob Hill 1992–93NBA Eastern 8th Central 5th 41 41 .500 16 Lost first round (Knicks) 3–1 1993–94NBA Eastern 5th Central 3rd 47 35 .573 10 Won first round (Magic) 3–0Won conference semifinals (Hawks) 4–2Lost conference finals (Knicks) 4–3 Larry Brown 1994–95NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 52 30 .634 — Won first round (Hawks) 3–0Won conference semifinals (Knicks) 4–3Lost conference finals (Magic) 4–3 1995–96NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 52 30 .634 20 Lost first round (Hawks) 3–2 1996–97NBA Eastern 10th Central 6th 39 43 .476 30 — 1997–98NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 58 24 .707 4 Won first round (Cavaliers) 3–1Won conference semifinals (Knicks) 4–1Lost conference finals (Bulls) 4–3 Larry Bird (COY) Larry Bird 1998–99NBA Eastern 2nd Central 1st 33 17 .660 — Won first round (Bucks) 3–0Won conference semifinals (76ers) 4–0Lost conference finals (Knicks) 4–2 1999–00NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 56 26 .683 — Won first round (Bucks) 3–2Won conference semifinals (76ers) 4–2Won conference finals (Knicks) 4–2Lost NBA Finals (Lakers) 4–2 Jalen Rose (MIP) 2000–01NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 41 41 .500 11 Lost first round (76ers) 3–1 Isiah Thomas 2001–02NBA Eastern 8th Central 4th 42 40 .512 8 Lost first round (Nets) 3–2Jermaine O'Neal (MIP) 2002–03NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 48 34 .585 2 Lost first round (Celtics) 4–2 2003–04NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 61 21 .744 — Won first round (Celtics) 4–0Won conference semifinals (Heat) 4–2Lost conference finals (Pistons) 4–2Ron Artest (DPOY)Reggie Miller (JWKC) Rick Carlisle 2004–05NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 44 38 .537 10 Won first round (Celtics) 4–3Lost conference semifinals (Pistons) 4–2 2005–06NBA Eastern 6th Central 3rd 41 41 .500 23 Lost first round (Nets) 4–2 2006–07NBA Eastern 10th Central 4th 35 47 .427 18 — 2007–08NBA Eastern 9th Central 3rd 36 46 .439 23 — Jim O'Brien 2008–09NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 36 46 .439 30 — Danny Granger (MIP) 2009–10NBA Eastern 10th Central 4th 32 50 .390 29 — 2010–11NBA Eastern 8th Central 2nd 37 45 .451 25 Lost first round (Bulls) 4–1Jim O'BrienFrank Vogel 2011–12NBA Eastern 3rd Central 2nd 42 24 .636 8 Won first round (Magic) 4–1 Lost conference semifinals (Heat) 4–2 Larry Bird (EOY) Frank Vogel 2012–13NBA Eastern 3rd Central 1st 49 32 .605 — Won first round (Hawks) 4–2 Won conference semifinals (Knicks) 4–2 Lost conference finals (Heat) 4–3 Paul George (MIP) 2013–14NBA Eastern 1st Central 1st 56 26 .683 — Won first round (Hawks) 4–3Won conference semifinals (Wizards) 4–2Lost conference finals (Heat) 4–2 2014–15NBA Eastern 9th Central 4th 38 44 .463 15 — 2015–16NBAEastern7th Central 2nd 45 37 .549 12 Lost first round (Raptors) 4–3 2016–17NBAEastern7th Central 3rd 42 40 .512 9 Lost first round (Cavaliers) 4–0 Nate McMillan 2017–18NBAEastern5th Central 2nd 48 34 .585 2 Lost first round (Cavaliers) 4–3 Victor Oladipo (MIP) 2018–19NBAEastern5th Central 2nd 48 34 .585 12 Lost first round (Celtics) 4–0 2019–20NBAEastern4th Central 2nd 45 28 .616 11 Lost first round (Heat) 4–0 Malcolm Brogdon (JWKC) 2020–21NBAEastern9th Central 2nd 34 38 .472 12 — Nate Bjorkgren 2021–22NBAEastern13th Central 4th 25 57 .305 28.5 — Rick Carlisle 2022–23NBAEastern11th Central 4th 35 47 .427 23 — 2023–24NBAEastern6th Central 3rd 47 35 .573 2 Won first round (Bucks) 4–2 Won conference semifinals (Knicks) 4–3 Lost conference finals (Celtics) 4–0 2024–25NBAEastern4th Central 2nd 50 32 .610 14 Won first round (Bucks) 4–1 Won conference semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–1Won conference finals (Knicks) 4–2Lost NBA Finals (Thunder) 4–3 2025–26NBAEastern14th Central 5th 19 63 .232 41 —
All-time records StatisticWinsLossesW–L%ABA regular season record (1967–1976) 427 317 NBA regular season record (1976–present) 1,999 2,033 All-time regular season record (1967–present) 2,426 2,350 ABA postseason record (1967–1976) 69 50 NBA postseason record (1976–present) 138 143 All-time postseason record (1967–present) 207 193 All-time regular and postseason record (1967–present) 2,633 2,543
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