The Indiana Pacers are stepping into a new era, and the transformation begins with a sense of sobering reality. The team that captured so much attention with its high-octane offense and fearless pace last season will not be returning intact. For head coach Rick Carlisle and the players left standing, that means more than just adapting — it means completely redefining what Pacers basketball looks like.
The loss of Tyrese Haliburton for the season is a seismic blow, and no one inside the organization is pretending otherwise. Haliburton wasn’t just the team’s engine; he was its identity. His vision, tempo, and creativity elevated the Pacers to one of the most dynamic offenses in the Eastern Conference. With him at the helm, Indiana played free, fast, and fun — a brand of basketball that energized a fanbase and gave opposing teams nightmares. Without him, the Pacers lose their floor general, their All-Star, and the heartbeat of their system.
On top of that, Myles Turner’s departure in free agency leaves another gaping hole, this time in the paint. Turner was the franchise’s longest-tenured player and one of the NBA’s elite rim protectors. His ability to stretch the floor offensively and anchor the defense gave Indiana flexibility on both ends of the court. He wasn’t just a defensive presence; he was a veteran leader, a consistent contributor, and a stabilizing force during times of upheaval. His absence further underscores the shift this team is now forced to undergo.
Rick Carlisle, entering another season at the helm, isn’t sugarcoating the situation. He’s well aware that the team’s foundation has cracked, and he’s not interested in masking that with vague optimism. Instead, he’s leaned into the challenge, acknowledging that a transformation is not only necessary but inevitable. “Our game this year is gonna look different,” he stated bluntly. “There’s gonna be times when it doesn’t look pretty. I think we’re going to be a more physical defensive team… Things are going to change.”
That shift is already taking shape in the projected rotation. Andrew Nembhard will assume the role of starting point guard, stepping into enormous shoes with a quiet confidence. Nembhard showed promise in his rookie campaign, proving he could defend at a high level and control tempo when asked. But taking over full-time duties means more than flashes of potential. It demands leadership, consistency, and the ability to shoulder the burden of initiating the offense without a safety net. The ball is now in his hands, and with it, the responsibility of managing the team’s rhythm and execution.
Sliding into the backcourt alongside him is Bennedict Mathurin, a talented scorer with the kind of swagger and aggression the Pacers will now lean into. Mathurin’s offensive game is still growing, but he has the physical tools and mental edge to thrive in a more combative, downhill system. With Haliburton gone, Mathurin will be asked to expand his playmaking, improve his defensive effort, and evolve into a more complete two-way player. The opportunity is enormous, and so is the expectation.
The frontcourt, meanwhile, remains unsettled. With Turner gone, Indiana’s center position becomes an open competition, and the contenders each bring something different to the table. Isaiah Jackson offers bounce and energy, a high-motor athlete who can block shots and finish lobs. James Wiseman, once a highly-touted lottery pick, has yet to find consistent footing in the league but possesses untapped potential if the Pacers can unlock it. Jay Huff, a skilled big with shooting touch, adds a stretch element to the mix. Each candidate brings promise but also questions. Who can defend without fouling? Who can rebound with physicality? Who can anchor the middle without collapsing the team’s defensive schemes? These are answers Carlisle and his staff will need to uncover, and quickly.
But more than personnel, what truly marks this coming season for Indiana is the philosophical shift. This is not going to be the team that races to 120 points or relies on outscoring opponents in shootouts. Carlisle has made it clear: the identity is changing, and grit is replacing glamour. Without the elegant orchestration of Haliburton or the safety net of Turner’s defense, the Pacers are going back to basics. Physicality. Defense. Toughness. These are now the pillars.
That doesn’t mean the Pacers are abandoning all of their offensive principles. Nembhard can push the pace when needed, Mathurin can score in bunches, and players like Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith can still get out in transition. But there’s a recognition that without Haliburton’s singular talent at the point, the team can no longer rely on flair and fluidity alone. They’ll need to win in the trenches — through stops, through effort, through making games ugly when necessary.
That might not always be easy on the eyes, and it certainly won’t be easy on the scoreboard. But for a team trying to forge a new path without its two franchise cornerstones, it’s a logical, even necessary, evolution. Growing pains are coming. Nights when shots won’t fall, turnovers pile up, and the scoreboard doesn’t offer comfort. But those nights, Carlisle suggests, are part of the process — not signs of failure, but steps toward a new version of success.
There’s also a broader context to all of this. The Eastern Conference has grown more competitive, with powerhouse teams reloading and young squads maturing. The margin for error is slim, and the Pacers know that without Haliburton and Turner, they aren’t expected to compete at the same level. But they’re not waving the white flag. In fact, the lower expectations may serve them well. This is a chance for players like Nembhard and Mathurin to grow through adversity, for forgotten names like Wiseman or Huff to revive their careers, and for Carlisle to once again prove his value as one of the league’s most adaptable coaches.
There’s also a hunger among the team’s younger core to prove they can be more than just support pieces. Nembhard wants to be seen as a true starting point guard. Mathurin wants to elevate from scorer to star. Jackson wants to claim the center role as his own. These players are no longer secondary options — they’re now central to everything Indiana does. And with that responsibility comes the opportunity to redefine what the Pacers stand for.
Culture-building has always been part of Carlisle’s DNA, and this year, it’s paramount. Without two of his leaders, he’ll need to foster new ones. Accountability, communication, and buy-in will determine whether Indiana can weather the storm or sink under the weight of change. It’s not just about Xs and Os; it’s about identity, effort, and resilience. It’s about showing up every night with a chip on your shoulder and a commitment to doing the hard things — the things that don’t make highlights but do win respect.
The Pacers may not be flashy this year, but they’re aiming to be formidable. That starts with defense — contesting every shot, fighting through every screen, rebounding like it matters. It means setting hard screens, diving for loose balls, rotating with urgency, and finding pride in the less glamorous parts of the game. This team is being forged through necessity, but also through intent. There’s a belief that toughness can become a brand, that physicality can be a strength, and that success can be redefined.
That’s the message from Carlisle, and it’s one his players are beginning to embrace. It won’t always be smooth, and it won’t always be pretty, but it can be real. Authentic. Earned. The kind of basketball that fans in Indiana — a state with deep roots in gritty, fundamental hoops — can rally behind.
So while this version of the Pacers may not light up scoreboards like the last one, it might earn something just as valuable: respect. Respect for showing up. For fighting through adversity. For playing a style that’s about substance over style. For finding identity in effort, and meaning in the struggle.
This is no longer Haliburton’s team. It’s no longer Turner’s team. It’s a team in search of itself — and that, in its own way, is just as compelling. Because the Pacers are writing a new chapter now. One possession at a time.
