The Indiana Pacers opened their 2026 media day on Sept. 28 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a resolute message: the rebuilding phase is finished.
After a less-than-stellar campaign that yielded just 19 wins amid a devastating barrage of roster injuries and departures, the franchise is eager to turn the page with a fully healthy squad led by point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers guard emphasized his physical recovery, the shift in organizational standards and his deepened understanding of the game. Haliburton noted that regaining his physical durability has been a monumental step in his off-season preparation, particularly when dealing with the lingering psychological effects of his previous ailments.
“The first time that I fell and the gym didn’t gasp, that was the first time I felt like, okay, I’m normal again,” Haliburton said. “I feel like I’m stronger. I feel like that’ll help me with more physical matchups, which I’m excited about, seeing how I stack against those more physical defenders as time goes on.”
Beyond physical rehabilitation, Haliburton spent his extended off-season enhancing his basketball intellect. To better control the tempo and execution of the offense, he embedded himself directly with the Indiana coaching staff, watching film and analyzing strategic approaches from a managerial perspective.
“Just watching the game and sitting with coaches and understanding the way that they think … just learning the game better, our offensive and defensive processes, and just spending more time with the coaching staff has been a blessing for me,” Haliburton said.
The renewed physical confidence and strategic maturity arrive at a vital juncture for an Indiana team desperate to erase the memories of a 19-win season.
“We can’t act like last year did not happen,” Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said.
The Pacers spent the entirety of the previous schedule navigating severe rotational absences, preventing the starting unit from establishing any consistent on-court rhythm. However, with the roster now cleared for full participation ahead of training camp, the internal goals have shifted dramatically from mere improvement to ultimate contention.
Despite external skepticism surrounding a team that finished near the bottom of the league standings just a few months ago, Haliburton insists the locker room is firmly focused on securing a title.
“From a team perspective, we don’t have conversations about anything but winning a championship,” Haliburton said. “That’s our goal. There’s nothing more to talk about. There’s no small wins. To me, it’s like, the year is successful if we win a championship — if it’s not, it’s not successful.”
To fuel that massive competitive leap, the Pacers are actively leveraging public doubt and negative media coverage stemming from their recent struggles. Haliburton, known for his deep engagement with digital media and basketball culture, admitted that he constantly monitors external criticism to maintain his competitive edge throughout the arduous 82-game schedule.
“I search for any type of negativity at all times,” Haliburton said. “My screenshots folder, my bookmarks folder on Twitter is pretty crazy. So, that’s just who I am. That’s always going to be who I am. The last 16 months have allowed for a lot of material for me.”
The burden of leading a historic franchise back to prominence is not lost on Haliburton. He noted that he frequently seeks guidance from Pacers legend Reggie Miller, building a mentorship that bridges the gap between the franchise’s celebrated past and its ambitious future.
“It’s a special bond,” Haliburton said. “I’d be lying to say it’s not something that I sometimes have to pinch myself and believe that it’s a real thing… He’s been somebody that I can lean on all throughout my career since I’ve been here in Indiana.”
The entire Indiana roster seems to have adopted this underdog mentality as they prepare to open training camp. By embracing the external disrespect and focusing on internal accountability, the Pacers are looking to shock the professional basketball landscape.
“I feel like as a team, we have a lot of bulletin board material,” Haliburton said. “Just internally approaching things the right way and doing everything we can do to win a championship.”
The Pacers open the regular season against the Pelicans on Oct. 21 in New Orleans.
Contact multimedia & senior sports reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
