3 Biggest Questions Around Pacers Entering 2026-27 NBA Season

The Indiana Pacers will be looking for redemption coming into the new NBA season after missing the playoffs last year.

Indiana only won 19 games a year ago, leading to them being toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. But this year, the Pacers will be getting back star guard Tyrese Haliburton from injury, giving them a real boost.

The Pacers will be looking to reestablish themselves as a title contender in the East this year with Haliburton back on the floor. But ahead of the start of the season, the Pacers understand that it will be a grind to get back to the postseason and ultimately compete for a title. 

Indiana has a solid roster in place, but the East should be much tougher this coming season following a busy offseason. Here are three of the biggest questions surrounding the Pacers entering the new year:

1. Will Tyrese Haliburton Look Like Himself After The Injury?

The single biggest question around Indiana this year is how Haliburton's health will look. The star guard hasn't played since the 2025 NBA Finals, and he could be a little rusty once he does get back on the court.

But if Haliburton can shake things off quickly to get back to being one of the top players in the NBA, the Pacers should be just fine. Haliburton will set the tone for the entire season for Indiana, and his play on the court will impact the ceiling of this team.

2. Can Jarace Walker Step Up?

One of the biggest X-Factors for Indiana coming into the season is forward Jarace Walker, who took his game to another level last season without Haliburton. But with the star guard back, Walker will need to prove that he can continue growing on the court this year.

Walker will be counted on to provide the Pacers with another reliable wing player, and his scoring could impact a lot of the game. Without Bennedict Mathurin on the roster anymore, Indiana is going to need Walker to provide this unit with a boost.

3. Can Ivica Zubac Adjust His Game Enough?

The Pacers landed Ivica Zubac at the trade deadline last year, and he will now be the center of the future for the team. But there will be pressure on Zubac to adjust his game to fit the run-and-gun style that Indiana likes to use on offense.

Zubac is a strong rebounder and finisher at the rim, which could help this team out greatly, but he will also be required to run the floor. Much of the success of the Pacers this season will depend on Zubac fitting into the schemes, with head coach Rick Carlisle finding different ways for him to impact the game.