Aaron Nesmith said he used Indiana’s long offseason to get healthy, improve his ball handling and decision-making, and prepare for a return to meaningful games.
Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith played 45 games last season. He spoke about the offseason that followed at Victory Field on Monday night, in an availability before the Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic reported by Alex Golden of Indiana Pacers On SI.
Getting back to the playoffs is what Nesmith is after.
"It was good getting a long offseason and getting the body right," Nesmith said. "Working on some things we need to work on and just the excitement of getting back to playing meaningful games again."
The Pacers finished the 2025-26 season with a 19-63 record, second-worst in the NBA and 14th in the Eastern Conference. A neck injury cost Nesmith an extended stretch of it, and he sat out at least seven consecutive games during that run.
Nesmith played 45 games, averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He had a 41.4% field goal percentage and 37.9% from three. Drafted 14th overall by Boston from Vanderbilt in 2020, he later signed a two-year, $40.4 million extension with Indiana in October 2025.
Two springs ago, he scored 30 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals versus New York.
Nesmith said he concentrated on ball handling, making correct decisions, and playing more slowly this summer.
"I think it allows us to do more and try some different things," Nesmith explained. "And just keep the scheme the same with the first and second units."
That was on Kelly Oubre Jr., who signed for two years and $16.5 million through the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Last season, Oubre averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists with Philadelphia, shooting 46.7% overall and 36.0% from three. He started in at least 41 games each of his three seasons with the team.
Indiana also signed Larry Nance Jr. on a one-year minimum contract after waiving Micah Potter.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle projects to start Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac. Jarace Walker is in line for the backup minutes at small forward, with Oubre taking some of them.
Haliburton's Achilles tear during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals sidelined him for 14 months. Myles Turner agreed to a four-year, $108.9 million contract with Milwaukee. In February, Bennedict Mathurin was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Zubac and Kobe Brown.
An Indiana front office executive told Keith Smith of Spotrac in Las Vegas last month that the plan was always to run it back, and that Oubre declined other offers to sign.
Monday's game was the first Pacers Foundation Charity Softball Classic. Haliburton and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones captained the rosters. Proceeds went to Drive & Dish, the food-insecurity program Carlisle started.
The Pacers' camp report is dated September 29. They will open the season on October 21 in New Orleans, followed by Dallas visiting Gainbridge Fieldhouse two nights afterward.
