NBA Team Guide
Indiana Pacers: History, Championships & Facts
The Pacers were founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association and won three ABA titles. They joined the NBA in 1976 and reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and 2025.
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Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1967, a charter member of the ABA |
|---|---|
| Joined NBA | 1976, in the ABA–NBA merger |
| Arena | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis (opened 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse) |
| ABA titles | 3 (1970, 1972, 1973) |
| NBA Finals appearances | 2 (2000, 2025) as of 2026 |
| Name origin | Indianapolis 500 pace cars and harness racing |
Championship history
Indiana won three ABA championships in four seasons. As of 2026 the franchise has not won an NBA title, losing in the Finals in 2000 and 2025.
- 1970 ABA Finals: beat the Los Angeles Stars 4–2
- 1972 ABA Finals: beat the New York Nets 4–2
- 1973 ABA Finals: beat the Kentucky Colonels 4–3
- Also reached the ABA Finals in 1969 and 1975
- 2000 NBA Finals: lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2
- 2025 NBA Finals: lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 4–3
Franchise history
- 1967: Began play as a charter member of the ABA.
- 1974: Moved from the State Fairgrounds Coliseum to Market Square Arena.
- 1976: Joined the NBA in the ABA–NBA merger.
- 1987: Drafted Reggie Miller 11th overall; he played all 18 seasons in Indiana.
- 1999: Opened Conseco Fieldhouse, renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2011 and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2021.
- 2000: Won the Eastern Conference and reached the NBA Finals for the first time.
- 2004: The Pacers–Pistons brawl took place at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19.
Franchise record holders
| Points | Reggie Miller, 25,279 |
|---|---|
| Rebounds | Mel Daniels, 7,643 (ABA, 1968–1974) |
| 3-pointers | Reggie Miller, 2,560 |
Retired numbers
- 6Bill Russell (retired across the NBA)
- 30George McGinnis
- 31Reggie Miller
- 34Mel Daniels
- 35Roger Brown
- 529Bob "Slick" Leonard (coach)
Hall of Famers
Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, George McGinnis, Bob "Slick" Leonard (coach).
Biggest rivalries
- New York Knicks: frequent playoff opponents since the 1990s, including conference finals in 1994, 1999, 2000 and 2025.
- Detroit Pistons: Central Division rivals who beat Indiana in the 2004 conference finals and 2005 East semifinals, around the November 2004 brawl.
- Miami Heat: Miami eliminated Indiana three years in a row, 2012–2014, including the 2013 and 2014 conference finals.
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Have the Pacers ever won an NBA championship?
No, as of 2026. They won three ABA titles (1970, 1972, 1973) and lost the NBA Finals in 2000 and 2025.
Why are they called the Pacers?
The name refers to Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500 pace cars and with harness racing.
What was Reggie Miller's "8 points in 9 seconds"?
On May 7, 1995, in the East semifinals against the Knicks, Miller scored eight points in the final seconds to turn a 105–99 deficit into a 107–105 win.
What were the Pacers' arena's previous names?
It opened in 1999 as Conseco Fieldhouse, became Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2011 and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in 2021.
Who is the Pacers' all-time leading scorer?
Reggie Miller, with 25,279 points from 1987 to 2005.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.