The Indiana Pacers may have just taken the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the NBA Finals, but that does not necessarily mean they will be getting respect from the league. Especially not when Tyrese Haliburton is slated to miss all of next season with a torn Achilles.
The NBA just made its feelings on the Pacers very, very clear, awarding them with just nine nationally televised games for the 2025-26 campaign. Only nine teams have less, which is absolutely wild when you consider just how good Indiana was last season.
Of course, Haliburton’s absence certainly plays a major role here, but you do have to wonder how many more national TV appearances the Pacers would have made even if their star guard were healthy.
The Pacers simply are not a popular team
Let’s face it: Indiana is not a huge market. The fanbase is very dedicated, but it’s small, and the Pacers are simply not a big moneymaker for the league. And we have to be honest with ourselves, too: Indy is going to take a significant step back next year.
Not only is Haliburton on the shelf, but the Pacers lost Myles Turner to free agency and haven’t done anything to replace him. Their depth at center is an absolute mess, and even in the weak Eastern Conference, it will be tough for the Pacers to finish above .500.
Indiana is also not a marquee destination for free agents and it probably never will be. Even if the Pacers would have won the title back in June, it seems difficult to envision top-tier free agents flocking to Indianapolis, as sad as that may sound.
Hopefully, Haliburton is able to make a full recovery to get the Pacers back on track for the 2026-27 season, because Indiana seemed to be building something very special this past year.
