The Pacers Post Up

472 days. One unforgettable return. Pacers basketball is BACK. The Indiana Pacers kicked off their preseason in storybook fashion at Iowa State, Tyrese Haliburton’s alma mater, marking his long-awaited return to the court after 472 days. And while it wasn’t a perfect night, it damn near felt like one. Brad and Ryan break down Indiana’s preseason-opening victory, starting with Tyrese back where he belongs — running the Pacers offense. The starting unit found its rhythm late in the first half, piling up an incredible 22 assists on 25 made baskets. But while Tyrese was the headline, Jarace Walker stole the show, dishing out 10 assists in just 28 minutes, including an outrageous off-the-backboard dime to Jay Huff that looked straight out of Haliburton’s playbook. The Pacers got the win, both units showed plenty of promise, and a special night in Ames delivered everything fans had been waiting for. The wait is over. The comeback is underway. Pacers basketball is officially BACK.

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The future of the NBA might already be here. Ahead of the Pacers and Timberwolves meeting in preseason action at Iowa State, Brad and Ryan rank their Top 6 NBA players age 26 or younger — a list featuring two of the biggest stars taking the floor in Ames: Tyrese Haliburton and Anthony Edwards. But where do they rank among the league’s best young superstars? We debate a loaded group of players who aren’t just positioned to become the future faces of the NBA — many of them are already defining the league right now. Who would you build a franchise around? Who has the highest ceiling? Where do Ant and Hali belong? And is the No. 1 player on our list not just the best player 26 or younger… but potentially the best basketball player on the planet, period? The future — and maybe the present — of the NBA is here.

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We’re kicking off our Pacers Positional Preview Series with the group that underwent the biggest transformation this past year: the centers. Ivica Zubac. Jay Huff. Larry Nance Jr. Indiana enters the season with an almost completely new-look center rotation — and arguably the position group with the most to prove. Brad and Ryan break down what to expect from each: Ivica Zubac — What does a true physical presence at the five unlock for Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers offense? We talk expectations, projected production and how his game could evolve in Indiana. Jay Huff — Shooting, rim protection and a completely different look behind Zubac. How big of a role can Huff carve out this season? Larry Nance Jr. — The newest addition to the roster brings experience, versatility and another option for Rick Carlisle. Where does he fit into the rotation? We dive into projected roles and numbers, lineup possibilities, strengths, concerns and what success looks like for each player. It’s the newest position group on the Pacers roster — and maybe the one with the most to prove.

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Pacers basketball is officially BACK. Brad and Ryan are reacting to everything they saw at Pacers Fan Jam, including the moment everyone in Gainbridge Fieldhouse had been waiting for: Tyrese Haliburton back on an NBA court. For the first time since tearing his Achilles in the 2025 NBA Finals, Hali was back in front of Pacers fans — moving well, looking comfortable and giving us our first live glimpse of the comeback we’ve been waiting more than a year to see. And Tyrese wasn’t the only reason to leave Fan Jam excited. Kelly Oubre Jr. brought exactly the kind of energy we hoped to see, Ivica Zubac gave fans their first look at a completely different presence at the five, Braden Smith showed that he belonged on an NBA court, and Indiana’s new-look roster finally got to share the floor in front of Pacers fans. Plus, we talk about another first-class Fan Jam experience from the Pacers and the energy inside Gainbridge as Indianapolis gets ready for another season of basketball. Training camp is underway. Preseason starts this week. And the Tyrese Haliburton comeback tour has officially begun.

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The Pacers are only a few days into training camp, but we’re already getting our first glimpse at what this new-look roster could become. Brad and Ryan break down the early notes from camp, starting with a bigger, longer and more versatile second unit — and why Indiana may somehow remain one of the deepest teams in the NBA despite all the changes this offseason. Then, it’s time to talk Ivica Zubac. Early reports about his conditioning have been encouraging, we’re seeing his ability to run the floor and finish alongside Indiana’s guards, and training camp footage even gave us a little glimpse of something unexpected…Are we getting Zubac threes?! We also dive into Braden Smith reportedly adding 15 pounds of muscle, what that could mean for his role and development this season, and how he fits into an increasingly competitive Pacers rotation. Finally, we look ahead to a loaded October for The Pacers Post Up and everything we have planned as we count down to Opening Night on October 21. Training camp is underway. The roster is taking shape. Pacers basketball is almost here.

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Pacers basketball is officially back. Brad and Ryan break down everything that stood out from 2026 Pacers Media Day as Indiana enters a new season with plenty of exciting storylines. Tyrese Haliburton is healthy, confident and ready to remind everyone exactly who he is. Ivica Zubac is already talking about how he fits alongside Tyrese, Pascal Siakam and Indiana’s high-powered offense. And after hearing from the players and Rick Carlisle, one thing kept coming through: this group genuinely believes it has something special. We talk about Hali’s return, the chemistry surrounding this roster, Andrew Nembhard’s lack of media talent, Rick Carlisle being Rick Carlisle, and why the Pacers aren’t shying away from their championship aspirations. Plus: Venn diagrams, Swiss Army knives, mysterious bowling references and plenty more from an eventful Media Day.

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Today, we walk through the most critical calendar dates on the horizon and lay out exactly what we're watching for as basketball returns to Indy.

What We Cover:

Media Day (Sept 28): Johnny Furphy injury status and timeline updates, Ivica Zubac's conditioning, and offseason focus areas for Jarace Walker and the squad.

Training Camp Kickoff (Sept 29): The practice jersey color trick, reading Carlisle's early bench hierarchy, rotation spots for Walker and Sheppard, and the backup 5 battle.

Preseason Schedule (Oct 7–16): Starter minutes, rotation dynamics, and Tyrese Haliburton’s approach to preseason travel (including his Iowa homecoming).

Important Contract Dates (Oct 19): Key team option deadlines for Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard.

Nov 5 Cap Threshold: Why November 5 is the magic prorated cap date for a veteran minimum signing, plus a look at potential target free agents.

Tyrese Haliburton on Boardroom Talks: Reacting to Tyrese's thoughts on playoff fire, superstar respect, frugality, and his bold postseason claims

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We’re going around the NBA for a loaded episode of the Pacers Post Up. First, we dive into the latest Kawhi Leonard/Clippers drama and how what is happening in LA has a ripple effect to the “what if?” in Indiana after the draft picks conveyed in the Ivica Zubac trade. Then, Tyrese Haliburton: NBA villain? After throwing out the first pitch in Chicago against the Brewers and setting off another round of Twitter drama, we talk about Hali embracing the villain role — and why it seems to follow him whenever the Pacers run into the Knicks, Giannis and some of their biggest rivals. Next, Milwaukee reportedly can’t find much of a market for Myles Turner at his current contract. One year later, did Indiana actually dodge a bullet by letting him walk? And finally… we go FULL delusional reacting to Nasir Core’s latest T.J. McConnell take. Kawhi chaos. Hali the villain. Myles in Milwaukee. And some shameful TJ commentary. A little bit of everything in this State of the Pacers!

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The voice of the Indiana Pacers joins Pacers Post Up! ️Chris Denari, the NSMA’s 2025 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year, joins Brad and Ryan for a wide-ranging preview of the 2026-27 Pacers season. Chris takes us inside the move to DAZN and what Pacers fans can expect from the team’s new broadcast home before diving into a fascinating offseason in Indiana. We talk about the addition of Kelly Oubre Jr., what’s next for Jarace Walker, the continued rehab and development of Johnny Furphy, and which young Pacers could be ready to take another step. Then we get into one of the biggest changes of all: Ivica Zubac. How will a true big man fit alongside Pascal Siakam and a returning Tyrese Haliburton? Could Zubac unlock something new for Indiana — and how much will Rick Carlisle actually change the fast-paced style that has defined this team? Finally, we have some fun with Chris: the future of “SMOTHERED CHICKEN!”, his celebrity look-alike, and what it was like experiencing the Pacers incredible Finals run from an entirely different perspective — as a fan watching the national broadcasts rather than calling the games himself. An awesome conversation about where the Pacers have been, where they’re headed, and a new era of Pacers basketball with the man who has had a front-row seat for it all. A huge honor to have Chris Denari join The Pacers Post Up!

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With the Pacers’ rotation looking a little different heading into the 2026-27 season, one question stands out: who leads Indiana’s second unit? TJ McConnell? Obi Toppin? Kelly Oubre Jr.? Or could someone else emerge as the Pacers most important weapon off the bench? Brad and Ryan break down Indiana’s 6th Man of the Year candidates before going around the Eastern Conference to identify the biggest threats for the award. We debate a loaded group featuring Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Mitchell Robinson, Anthony Black, Lu Dort, Grayson Allen and more. Who has the best combination of opportunity, production and winning? Which players are being overlooked? And does a Pacer have a legitimate shot to bring home 6MOY? Tune in and find out!

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