Pacers Have an Obvious Reason to Believe 2026 Will Be a Better Season

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Pacers have a pretty good idea of what they can be in 2026.

Indiana made it all the way to the Finals last season. Then, sadly, Tyrese Haliburton got a torn Achilles in Game 7. It was a brutal way for the season to end.

Losing Haliburton was super brutal for Indiana. The Pacers suddenly had to find a way to replace the player who powered their offense and helped set the pace every night. Without him, the team struggled to find consistency and finished with just 19 wins.

That tells you that he's more than important to this team. He's critical.

The good news is Haliburton is on track to return, and the early signs have been promising. Seeing him back on the court and already doing things like between-the-legs dunks is exactly what Indiana wanted to see during his recovery.

The Pacers also aren't starting over. The group that helped them reach the Finals is still mostly intact. Pascal Siakam is still a major part of the offense. Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith give Indiana two-way players who can fit alongside Haliburton without needing the ball all the time.

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That's key because this team already knows what works. Indiana also made an interesting move by trading for Ivica Zubac. Giving up the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft was a tough price, especially after last season went so poorly, but Zubac fills a need for this roster. He's a reliable rebounder, a strong interior defender and the type of big man who can help in playoff matchups.

There are still a lot of questions. The East is much tougher than it was during Indiana's run to the Finals, and the Pacers won't sneak up on anyone this time around. Teams know what they're capable of, and the expectations are much higher.

But that doesn't mean Indiana should be overlooked. Haliburton has already shown he can lead this team deep into the postseason. With him back, the Pacers have the same core that surprised the league, plus another year of experience from that playoff run.

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A lot will depend on how Haliburton looks after the injury, but if he returns healthy, Indiana should be much closer to the team fans remember from the Finals than the one that struggled last season.

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