Here are five way-too-early bold predictions for the Indiana Pacers in 2026-27.
The Indiana Pacers had a 2025-26 season to forget, with everything going wrong for the team.
Not only did star guard Tyrese Haliburton miss the entire NBA season due to injury, but the organization also missed the playoffs. Indiana just couldn't muster up enough throughout the year to keep pace in the Eastern Conference, finishing the year with a 19-63 record.
The Pacers also lost their first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers by way of a trade for center Ivica Zubac. But heading into the new 2026-27 season, there is a lot of optimism that the Pacers can return to being title contenders.
Here are five bold predictions for the Pacers entering the new year:
1. Pacers Open 2026-27 Season 4-0
The Pacers will open the season against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road. This should give them a chance to start the year off right, getting back into a groove.
The team then plays the Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, and Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana will win each of these games, starting the season 4-0, before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in their fifth matchup.
2. Ivica Zubac Has Career Season
After being traded to the Pacers, Zubac only played in five games. In that time, he averaged 11.6 points and 7.2 rebounds.
But with Haliburton returning and the Pacers' offense likely to be more explosive, Zubac will see his numbers increase. His career-high in points per game is 16.8, but he will exceed that this season, getting fed easy shot opportunities all over the place.
3. Pacers End Year as Play-In Team
While the return of Haliburton is exciting, there are plenty of other strong teams in the East. Indiana will need some time to build back up, and because of this, they will end up in the Play-In Tournament.
But don't worry, Pacers fans; they find a way to get into the playoffs. Indiana will enter the postseason as the seventh seed.
4. Jarace Walker Takes Another Step and Averages 15 points per game
Without Haliburton in the lineup last season, others were called upon to step up offensively. One of those was forward Jarace Walker, who looked much better in his third season.
Walker averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, playing in 76 games. But this coming season, the forward will go even further, getting to an average of 15 points per game.
5. Tyrese Haliburton Returns but Fails to Make All-Star Team
While Haliburton will be back for the Pacers this year, his return could see him get off to a slow start. After all, the last time we saw the star guard was in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals.
Haliburton will eventually get back to being his normal self, but there could be some serious rust. With this, he will miss being named to the All-Star team this year.
