Pacers' 'humbling' season ends with franchise’s worst winning percentage
The Pacers finish 19-63 — the worst record in franchise history — as injuries define a difficult season and shift focus to the draft lottery and what comes next.
Good evening and welcome back to Fieldhouse Files.
One of the best things about living in downtown Indianapolis is that there’s never a shortage of sports. Just last week, a massive new graphic was going up on the JW Marriott even before they had finished taking down the bracket from the men’s Final Four.
I felt that again Monday, when the Indiana Fever announced their latest signing and then, hours later, made three picks in the WNBA Draft. Because just 24 hours earlier, the Pacers wrapped up another season with Game 82 — a 133-121 loss to the Pistons.
We knew heading into training camp last September that this 2025-26 team wouldn’t be a championship contender, but nobody thought it would be this bad.
Historically bad.
Injuries and player availability were the number one factor. In Game 82, three of the nine players who saw action were on two-way contracts.
In total, players missed a combined 429 games due to injury — an absurd number.
As a result, it marked the first time in franchise history the Pacers failed to reach 20 wins (19-63), and just the third time they were held below 25. Historically, this has been one of the league’s most consistent franchises, regularly winning 40-plus games and reaching the postseason.
But this season goes down as the outlier — a .232 winning percentage, second-worst in the NBA (ahead of only Washington), and the worst in franchise history.
“I’m really proud of the group,” Carlisle said on Sunday. “Particularly this last set of games from Orlando on, I thought we regained the competitive spirit that we had for a lot of the year, even though it was a struggle to win games. And it’s been what we’ve stood for the last two and a half, three years.”
In the process, they secured a bottom-three record to secure a 14% chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and odds of at least landing in the top four. The latter is most critical because if they fall out of that top tier, and fall to fifth or sixth, that selection goes to the LA Clippers as part of their trade agreement for center Ivica Zubac.
Occasionally, I’ll run a lottery simulation over on Tankathon. The last time, it had the Pacers dropping and losing the pick. Today? Much different — jumping to No. 1. The Grizzlies moved up four spots to second, and the Bulls leaped from ninth to third.
May 10 is the pivotal date for the franchise. In addition to Mother’s Day, that’s when the draft lottery will be held in Chicago.
Carlisle was asked about the impact a potential top pick could have on next season.
“That’s obvious,” he said, “but we don’t control that. If it doesn’t happen, there’s a contingency plan to build the team up, too. So we’re gonna view it as a win-win situation. We got Zubac here — who’s going to be a terrific player for us.
“If it turns out we don’t get one of the one of the four picks, then we fulfilled a pretty significant part of what we owe the Clippers, and we’ve gotten a center and and we probably have the ability to go get some other veterans. We’ll have to see.”
Just days later, Zubac was back home in Los Angeles, taking in postseason action. He and his wife sat courtside at Intuit Dome to watch his former team in the Play-In against the Warriors.
Next season, he’s expected to be fully healthy. Teammates anticipate adjusting to his style — a true paint presence who rebounds, creates space inside, and facilitates with strong vision.
The Pacers have 11 players on fully guaranteed contracts for the 2026-27 season, with hopes of adding a top-four pick. Quenton Jackson and Kam Jones have partial guarantees, and Micah Potter’s deal becomes guaranteed next January.
That’s 15 players already under consideration.
One wildcard: Kobe Brown, though the Pacers are limited in what they can offer.
Changes are inevitable, but likely subtle. Like the Fever, the expectation is to run it back with a healthier group next season.
Tyrese Haliburton will be returning from injury and shingles, while promising forward Johnny Furphy continues his recovery from ACL surgery.
"Just got off crutches,” he said, seven weeks post-surgery. “That was a big milestone for me. I'm moving around a lot more now without crutches. So it's been a big week for me.”
Added Carlisle: “Furphy will make a full recovery. We can’t wait.”
Most players will take the next month to rest, reflect, and recover from a demanding seven-month season.
The only Pacer to appear in all 82 games was center Jay Huff — Mr. 82. Carlisle presented him with a plaque postgame. He was one of just 18 players leaguewide to play every game.
In total, 27 players suited up for the Pacers this season, with 28 under contract (including Haliburton).
The front office and coaching staff will mix in family time with reflecting on the past season, too, while also springing it forward. Once May hits, it’s filled with draft and free agency work leading into NBA Summer League in July.
It was a season unlike any other — and one the organization doesn’t want to repeat.
“It’s a humbling year,” Carlisle added. “There’s a saying you’re either humble or you’re about to be humbled and after last year, just the rash of things that happened was humbling enough. And then we start one and thirteen. And really, our guys played their butts off the entire year.
“I was just proud of the way the guys stuck with it. We learned a lot about the group, and that will go a long way toward figuring out the roster for next year.”
Thank You…
This concludes my 14th season on the Pacers beat, including nine with playoff runs.
No matter the circumstances, I’ll keep showing up and doing the work — serving fans with great stories and what you need to know. Thank you for following along.
News and Notes
Carlisle served as the featured speaker at the Indianapolis Oldtimers Club banquet on Saturday night.
T.J. McConnell’s sister, Megan, signed a camp deal with the Fever.
Jalen Slawson, who started the season with the Pacers and then received a promotion to a two-way deal, became the first player in Boom franchise history to be receive All-Defensive First Team honors. He averaged 18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.4 steals in 34.9 minutes per game.
Boom GM Chris Taylor: “We are incredibly proud of Jalen for being selected to the All-Defensive First Team, a first in our franchise’s history. The G League is focused on development, and Jalen embodied that to the utmost. This is reflected in both his stats – which were career-highs across the board – and his elite timing to block shots, which was a point of emphasis with our staff this season. It is special to see what Jalen did all season for the Boom now being showcased in the NBA with the Pacers.”
Happy retirement to NBA Entertainment photographer Ron Hoskins. He’s been courtside at Pacers (and Fever) games for the past 34 years. I wrote about him during the COVID-19 pandemic and how his job was impacted.
The Pro Basketball Writers Association, of which I’m a part of, is handing out season awards this week. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff received the Rudy Tomjanovich Award, which honors an NBA coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court,
Notable, too, that Pistons public relations received the Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award for standards of professionalism and excellence. (The Pacers won this in 2011 and 2013.)
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama won the Magic Johnson Award for cooperation and grace in dealing with media and fans.
Indy native Michael Grady was on the call for the Magic-76ers Play-In game on Wednesday. He’s scheduled to call playoff games as well. He’ll be in Denver on Monday to call Game 2 of Timberwolves at Nuggets — with Brian Scalabrine, Austin Rivers, and Grant Liffmann. Grady is the TV voice of the Timberwolves so this is a great match. He’ll also call WNBA games this summer. He has deals with FanDuel Sports Network, NBC, and Prime Video.
I think it’s notable that NBC has its main crew on Game 1 and 2 of Trail Blazers and Spurs, featuring Wemby. That’s Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller and Zora Stephenson.
Speaking of Miller, his older sister Cheryl plans to join NBC as a studio analyst for the WNBA season. She will work with host Maria Taylor and analyst Sue Bird.
Carlisle Wears Shoes For a Cause
Beginning April 1 in Chicago, Carlisle wore special Nike Air Max 90s as part of Autism Acceptance Month.
All 30 head coaches participated, supporting a cause spearheaded by Utah Jazz assistant Scott Morrison and his wife, Susanne. They founded the “To The Max Foundation” after their son Max’s autism diagnosis.
The shoes, along with other game-worn and autographed items from around the league, will be auctioned next month. Bidding opens at 10 a.m. on May 12.
McConnell a Finalist For League Award
Pacers guard T.J. McConnell is one of six finalists for the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award, which honors players who best represent respect and integrity on the court.
“Very deserving,” Carlisle said. “As are these other guys.”
The other five finalists, each a nominee from their division: Derrick White (Celtics), Bam Adebayo (Heat), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Al Horford (Warriors), and Harrison Barnes (Spurs).
“Obviously feels good,” McConnell said. “Just try to go about things the right way, on and off the court. So very appreciative and the guys that are on there (are) also great players and good people as well.”
Mike Breen Stands Up For Local Broadcast(ers)
As all 30 local broadcasts for teams signed off on Sunday, it marked the end of the line for the 2025-26 season — and, potentially, a broader shift.
In the past, team’s local broadcast could continue through the first round, as long as it wasn’t a national exclusive on ABC or TNT.
However, under the new NBA TV rights deal, there may be only one telecast for playoff games — and it’s a national distributor.
For the Play-In Tournament, it’s Prime Video.
Mike Breen is the voice of the NBA. He calls the NBA Finals on ESPN/ABC. He’s also the TV play-by-play voice of the New York Knicks on MSG. So it meant a lot when he was the one to support local broadcasts and their announcing teams.
“I personally think it’s a poor decision,” he said. “Fans want to hear their teams’ announcers, at least in the first round. Because, for so many of us, and all of my favorite teams growing up, the home team announcers, they become part of the family, such a big part of why you root for the team.
“Now, I get it, that the networks pay a fortune to get exclusivity. “Obviously, I work for one of the networks (MSG), and it’s important for them. But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while, in terms of, you know, let the home team have a little bit of the first round, somehow, if there’s any way they could ever work out some kind of compromise. I’m not hopeful for that, but it’d be wonderful to have it.”
What do you think?
Pacers’ VP Receives Local Honor
Spencer Anderson has been named to the Indiana Business Journal’s annual 40 Under 40 list.
A behind-the-scenes presence, Anderson has quietly played a key role in helping the Pacers search for competitive advantages. Success with forward Terry Taylor once had Carlisle saying “Spencer Anderson for fucking president.”
Anderson, 39, joined the franchise in 2013 and has earned several promotions, rising to Vice President of Basketball Analytics and Strategy.
“Well deserved!” tweeted team president Kevin Pritchard.