Fieldhouse Files: Scott Agness on the Indiana Pacers

Donnie Walsh was the longtime architect of the Indiana Pacers. He first joined the franchise in 1984 as an assistant coach, but coaching wasn't his end game. He earned a law degree and wanted to run a franchise — and two years later, he became general manager.

On Dec. 30, 2020, Donnie Walsh he finalized his decision to retire after giving his life to the game. This is his first extensive interview and we covered a lot of ground — from playing at UNC to getting into coaching, aspiring to run a team, the evolution of the game and much more.

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It's Feb. 12 and Indy should be buzzing with thousands of guests from across the world. But the pandemic interrupted plans for Indy to host the 2021 NBA All-Star game. Rick Fuson, the President and COO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, is my guest this week to discuss what was supposed to be Indy's weekend, when they knew it would all be moved and how volunteers are helping out with the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

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Sarah Kustok is part of the NBA's best local TV broadcast, serving as the Nets game analyst on the YES Network. She's covered the Nets since 2012 and was there when Caris LeVert joined the franchise in 2016. Since the Pacers acquired LeVert in a four-team trade, the first call I made was to Kustok to learn even more about what the Pacers were getting.

“I don’t even think he’s scratched the surface of the player that he’s going to become," she said.

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This is a news-packed episode of the Fieldhouse Files. I start off with updates on my own work, then get into the Victor Oladipo-Caris LeVert trade, the discovery of a small mass on LeVert's kidney, Myles Turner's right hand and other news. ... Then, listen to Pacers president Kevin Pritchard's full conversation with reporters on LeVert's health and why they chose NOT to void the trade.

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It's the final episode of 2020. To close it out, I touch on longtime Pacers executive stepping down from his role as Pacers consultant and the role he had in running the franchise and then Jared Weiss of The Athletic joins to discuss the Pacers' early success, new coach Nate Bjorkgren, no trade being completed for Gordon Hayward and Victor Oladipo's options in the offseason.

Thanks for listening this year, and Happy New Year!

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It was a positive first week of the season for the Pacers: 3-0, Sabonis was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week and the roster is impressed with its coach. On this episode, I catch you up on a couple transactional moves, then discuss the first week of games, adjustments made and a couple role players who have excelled. Then, I share what it's like being at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for a game under the current conditions — and without fans.

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Jason Buckner was a manager for IU basketball and coach Knight, he's coached and most recently worked for the Pacers in scouting. He started with the team in Apr. 2012 as the manager of basketball administration and later became one of three regional scouts. Over the summer, he departed and then accepted a job with the Pistons as their director of draft scouting. We'll talk about his career path, being able to work remotely in Indy, his approach talent evaluation and the positive impact his father, Quinn Buckner, has had on his life.

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On this episode: I detail Gordon Hayward's desire to play at home for the Pacers and trade talks with the Celtics were doomed from the start, what the Pacers look like entering camp, Nate Bjorkgren filling out his coaching staff and renovations made to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

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The draft finally happened — five months later than usual and after the date was pushed back twice. I go solo on this podcast to share my thoughts on the night and the Pacers taking Cassius Stanley at 54. Then, I answer key questions on several Pacers and look ahead to free agency. There's mutual interest in Gordon Hayward playing for the Pacers, but what would it take? Take a listen...

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Dru Anthrop is a native of Lafayette, Indiana and he played basketball at Purdue from 2009-13. He then was a video intern with the Pacers, and after four other stops, he's now the head video coordinator for the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers — working under Frank Vogel. Anthrop discusses his two seasons with the Pacers, how hard work and a lot of luck are positively impacting his career, his time in the bubble and being part of a championship team.

Click here to review this podcast.

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