- First NBA Finals appearance since 2000 ends 25-year championship drought
- Defeated 2021 champions Bucks and top-seeded Cavaliers in playoff run
- Modern roster construction mirrors ABA-era fast-paced offensive identity
- Potential to become first franchise with ABA and NBA titles
When Tyrese Haliburton embraced Reggie Miller after clinching the Eastern Conference championship, it symbolized a generational torch-passing for a franchise steeped in basketball tradition. The Indiana Pacers' journey to the 2024 NBA Finals represents more than roster upgrades - it's a cultural reset for an organization that survived near-bankruptcy, the Malice at the Palace, and 14 playoff misses since 2000.
Indiana's basketball faithful have endured unique hardships. In 1977, fans donated $82,000 through a televised telethon to keep the fledgling NBA team solvent. The franchise's 48-year NBA history includes only 27 playoff series wins, with multiple rebuilds derailed by injuries to stars like Paul George and Victor Oladipo. Current center Myles Turner - the longest-tenured Pacer - survived six coaching changes before this breakthrough.
President Kevin Pritchard's roster overhaul created the league's fastest offense (123.7 PPG), combining elements of Indiana's ABA heritage with modern analytics. The Haliburton-Siakam pick-and-roll attack generates 1.18 points per possession, while the bench leads the NBA in scoring (48.2 PPG). This stylistic revolution has increased attendance by 33% at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where decibel levels now rival Indianapolis 500 crowds.
Basketball purists note structural similarities to Indiana's ABA champions: motion offense (47.3% assisted field goals), 3-point volume (36.8 attempts per game), and transition dominance (18.4 fastbreak points). Coach Rick Carlisle emphasizes this connection, telling reporters: We're honoring Slick Leonard's legacy by making basketball fun again in the Hoosier State.
As the Pacers prepare for Oklahoma City, they carry Indiana's unique basketball ethos. High school gyms across the state now display Beat OKCbanners, while the Indianapolis Symphony plans Finals watch parties at Monument Circle. A championship would complete the franchise's redemption arc - from telethon survivors to standard-bearers for small-market NBA success.