
TheIndiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based inIndianapolis,Indiana, United States. They are members of theCentral Division of theEastern Conference in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers were founded in 1967, originally as members of theAmerican 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.[1] The Pacers were led during the ABA days by two-time MVPMel Daniels and by head coachBobby Leonard.
The1976–77 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 theNBA playoffs three times in their first 13 seasons.[1] The Pacers would not win their first playoff series until the1993–94 season, which came against theOrlando Magic. It was during this time that the Pacers were led by1987 draft pick,Reggie Miller, who entered theBasketball Hall of Fame in 2012.[2] 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.[3]
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 theNBA Eastern Conference Finals ten times (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2025).[4] They played in the2000 NBA Finals againstKobe Bryant,Shaquille O'Neal and theLos Angeles Lakers, and again in the2025 NBA Finals againstShai Gilgeous-Alexander and theOklahoma City Thunder. The Pacers are one of 10 franchises to have never won anNBA championship and the only Central Division team without at least one championship title.

| ASG MVP | All-Star Game Most Valuable Player |
| COY | Coach of the Year |
| Finish | Final position in league or division standings |
| GB | Games behind first-place team in division[a] |
| Losses | Number of regular season losses |
| EOY | Executive of the Year |
| JWKC | J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship |
| MVP | Most Valuable Player |
| ROY | Rookie of the Year |
| SMOY | Sixth Man of the Year |
| Wins | Number of regular season wins |
| Win% | Winning percentage |
| ABA champions | NBA champions | Conference champions | Division champions | Playoff berth | Play-in berth |
| Season | League | Conference | Finish[b] | Division | Finish[b] | W[c] | L[c] | Win% | GB | Playoffs | Awards | Head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–68 | ABA | — | — | Eastern | 3rd | 38 | 40 | .487 | 16 | LostDivision Semifinals (Pipers) 3–0[5] | Larry Staverman | |
| 1968–69 | ABA | — | — | Eastern | 1st | 44 | 34 | .564 | — | WonDivision Semifinals (Colonels) 4–3 WonDivision Finals (Floridians) 4–1 LostABA Finals (Oaks) 4–1[6] | Mel Daniels (MVP)[7] | Larry Staverman Bobby Leonard |
| 1969–70 | ABA | — | — | Eastern | 1st | 59 | 25 | .702 | — | WonDivision semifinals (Cougars) 4–0 WonDivision Finals (Colonels) 4–1 WonABA Finals (Stars) 4–2[8] | Roger Brown (PMVP)[9] | Bobby Leonard |
| 1970–71 | ABA | — | — | Western | 1st | 58 | 26 | .690 | — | WonDivision Semifinals (Pros) 4–0 LostDivision Finals (Stars) 4–3[10] | Mel Daniels (MVP,ASG MVP)[7][11] | |
| 1971–72 | ABA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 47 | 37 | .560 | 13 | WonDivision Semifinals (Rockets) 4–3 WonDivision Finals (Stars) 4–3 WonABA Finals (Nets) 4–2[12] | Freddie Lewis (PMVP)[13] | |
| 1972–73 | ABA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 51 | 33 | .607 | 4 | WonDivision Semifinals (Rockets) 4–1 WonDivision Finals (Stars) 4–2 WonABA Finals (Colonels) 4–3[14] | George McGinnis (PMVP)[15] | |
| 1973–74 | ABA | — | — | Western | 2nd | 46 | 38 | .548 | 5 | WonDivision Semifinals (Spurs) 4–3 LostDivision Finals (Stars) 4–3[16] | ||
| 1974–75 | ABA | — | — | Western | 3rd | 45 | 39 | .536 | 20 | WonDivision Semifinals (Spurs) 4–2 WonDivision Finals (Nuggets) 4–3 LostABA Finals (Colonels) 4–1[17] | George McGinnis (MVP)[7] | |
| 1975–76 | ABA | — | — | —[d] | 5th | 39 | 45 | .464 | 21 | LostFirst Round (Colonels) 2–1[18] | ||
| 1976–77[e] | NBA | Western | 9th | Midwest | 5th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 14 | — | ||
| 1977–78 | NBA | Western | 10th | Midwest | 5th | 31 | 51 | .378 | 17 | — | ||
| 1978–79 | NBA | Western | 8th | Midwest | 3rd | 38 | 44 | .463 | 10 | — | ||
| 1979–80 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 4th | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | — | ||
| 1980–81 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 44 | 38 | .537 | 16 | LostFirst round (76ers) 2–0[19] | Jack McKinney (COY)[20] | Jack McKinney |
| 1981–82 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 4th | 35 | 47 | .427 | 20 | — | ||
| 1982–83 | NBA | Eastern | 11th | Central | 6th | 20 | 62 | .244 | 31 | — | ||
| 1983–84 | NBA | Eastern | 11th | Central | 6th | 26 | 56 | .317 | 24 | — | ||
| 1984–85 | NBA | Eastern | 11th | Central | 6th | 22 | 60 | .268 | 37 | — | George Irvine | |
| 1985–86 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Central | 6th | 26 | 56 | .317 | 31 | — | ||
| 1986–87 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Central | 4th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | LostFirst round (Hawks) 3–1[21] | Chuck Person (ROY)[22] | Jack Ramsay |
| 1987–88 | NBA | Eastern | 9th | Central | 6th | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 | — | ||
| 1988–89 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Central | 6th | 28 | 54 | .341 | 35 | — | Jack Ramsay Mel Daniels George Irvine Dick Versace | |
| 1989–90 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 4th | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | LostFirst round (Pistons) 3–0[23] | Dick Versace | |
| 1990–91 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Central | 5th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 | LostFirst round (Celtics) 3–2[24] | Detlef Schrempf (SIX)[25] | Dick Versace Bob Hill |
| 1991–92 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Central | 4th | 40 | 42 | .488 | 27 | LostFirst round (Celtics) 3–0[26] | Detlef Schrempf (SIX)[25] | Bob Hill |
| 1992–93 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 5th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16 | LostFirst round (Knicks) 3–1[27] | ||
| 1993–94 | NBA | Eastern | 5th | Central | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | WonFirst round (Magic) 3–0 Wonconference semifinals (Hawks) 4–2 Lostconference finals (Knicks) 4–3[28] | Larry Brown | |
| 1994–95 | NBA | Eastern | 2nd | Central | 1st | 52 | 30 | .634 | — | WonFirst round (Hawks) 3–0 Wonconference semifinals (Knicks) 4–3 Lostconference finals (Magic) 4–3[29] | ||
| 1995–96 | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Central | 2nd | 52 | 30 | .634 | 20 | LostFirst round (Hawks) 3–2[30] | ||
| 1996–97 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Central | 6th | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 | — | ||
| 1997–98 | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Central | 2nd | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 | WonFirst round (Cavaliers) 3–1 Wonconference semifinals (Knicks) 4–1 Lostconference finals (Bulls) 4–3[31] | Larry Bird (COY)[20] | Larry Bird |
| 1998–99[f] | NBA | Eastern | 2nd | Central | 1st | 33 | 17 | .660 | — | WonFirst round (Bucks) 3–0 Wonconference semifinals (76ers) 4–0 Lostconference finals (Knicks) 4–2[32] | ||
| 1999–00 | NBA | Eastern | 1st | Central | 1st | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | WonFirst round (Bucks) 3–2 Wonconference semifinals (76ers) 4–2 Wonconference finals (Knicks) 4–2 LostNBA Finals (Lakers) 4–2[33] | Jalen Rose (MIP)[34] | |
| 2000–01 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 4th | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 | LostFirst round (76ers) 3–1[35] | Isiah Thomas | |
| 2001–02 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 4th | 42 | 40 | .512 | 8 | LostFirst round (Nets) 3–2[36] | Jermaine O'Neal (MIP)[37] | |
| 2002–03 | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Central | 2nd | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 | LostFirst round (Celtics) 4–2[38] | ||
| 2003–04 | NBA | Eastern | 1st | Central | 1st | 61 | 21 | .744 | — | WonFirst round (Celtics) 4–0 Wonconference semifinals (Heat) 4–2 Lostconference finals (Pistons) 4–2[39] | Ron Artest (DPOY)[40] Reggie Miller (JWKC)[41] | Rick Carlisle |
| 2004–05 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 44 | 38 | .537 | 10 | WonFirst round (Celtics) 4–3 Lostconference semifinals (Pistons) 4–2[42] | ||
| 2005–06 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 41 | 41 | .500 | 23 | LostFirst round (Nets) 4–2[43] | ||
| 2006–07 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Central | 4th | 35 | 47 | .427 | 18 | — | ||
| 2007–08 | NBA | Eastern | 9th | Central | 3rd | 36 | 46 | .439 | 23 | — | Jim O'Brien | |
| 2008–09 | NBA | Eastern | 9th | Central | 4th | 36 | 46 | .439 | 30 | — | Danny Granger (MIP)[44] | |
| 2009–10 | NBA | Eastern | 10th | Central | 4th | 32 | 50 | .390 | 29 | — | ||
| 2010–11 | NBA | Eastern | 8th | Central | 2nd | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 | LostFirst round (Bulls) 4–1[45] | Jim O'Brien Frank Vogel | |
| 2011–12[g] | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Central | 2nd | 42 | 24 | .636 | 8 | WonFirst round (Magic) 4–1 Lostconference semifinals (Heat) 4–2[46] | Larry Bird (EOY)[47] | Frank Vogel |
| 2012–13 | NBA | Eastern | 3rd | Central | 1st | 49 | 32 | .605 | — | WonFirst round (Hawks) 4–2 Wonconference semifinals (Knicks) 4–2 Lostconference finals (Heat) 4–3[48] | Paul George (MIP)[49] | |
| 2013–14 | NBA | Eastern | 1st | Central | 1st | 56 | 26 | .683 | — | WonFirst round (Hawks) 4–3 Wonconference semifinals (Wizards) 4–2 Lostconference finals (Heat) 4–2[50] | ||
| 2014–15 | NBA | Eastern | 9th | Central | 4th | 38 | 44 | .463 | 15 | — | ||
| 2015–16 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Central | 2nd | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 | LostFirst round (Raptors) 4–3[51] | ||
| 2016–17 | NBA | Eastern | 7th | Central | 3rd | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9 | LostFirst round (Cavaliers) 4–0[52] | Nate McMillan | |
| 2017–18 | NBA | Eastern | 5th | Central | 2nd | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 | LostFirst round (Cavaliers) 4–3[53] | Victor Oladipo (MIP)[54] | |
| 2018–19 | NBA | Eastern | 5th | Central | 2nd | 48 | 34 | .585 | 12 | LostFirst round (Celtics) 4–0[55] | ||
| 2019–20 | NBA | Eastern | 4th | Central | 2nd | 45 | 28 | .616 | 11 | LostFirst round (Heat) 4–0[56] | Malcolm Brogdon (JWKC)[57] | |
| 2020–21 | NBA | Eastern | 9th | Central | 2nd | 34 | 38 | .472 | 12 | — | Nate Bjorkgren | |
| 2021–22 | NBA | Eastern | 13th | Central | 4th | 25 | 57 | .305 | 28.5 | — | Rick Carlisle | |
| 2022–23 | NBA | Eastern | 11th | Central | 4th | 35 | 47 | .427 | 23 | — | ||
| 2023–24 | NBA | Eastern | 6th | Central | 3rd | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2 | WonFirst round (Bucks) 4–2 Wonconference semifinals (Knicks) 4–3 Lostconference finals (Celtics) 4–0[58] | ||
| 2024–25 | NBA | Eastern | 4th | Central | 2nd | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14 | WonFirst round (Bucks) 4–1 Wonconference semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–1 Wonconference finals (Knicks) 4–2 LostNBA Finals (Thunder) 4–3[59] |
| Statistic | Wins | Losses | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Pacers ABA regular season record (1967–1976) | 427 | 317 | .574 |
| Indiana Pacers NBA regular season record (1976–present) | 1,980 | 1,970 | .501 |
| Indiana Pacers regular season record | 2,407 | 2,287 | .513 |
| Indiana Pacers ABA post-season record (1967–1976) | 69 | 50 | .580 |
| Indiana Pacers NBA post-season record (1976–present) | 138 | 143 | .491 |
| Indiana Pacers post-season record | 207 | 193 | .518 |
| All-time regular and post-season record | 2,614 | 2,480 | .513 |