Our Basketball Soul

One of the most interesting and unexpected stories of the Indiana Pacers’ 2025 season is how Indianapolis became the center of basketball magic again, 25 years after their last trip to the NBA Finals.

At the heart of it all is Tyrese Haliburton, a 24-year-old point guard who not only led the league in assists for much of the year, but also emerged as the emotional engine of the team. What makes this season special is how he played through a lingering calf injury in the playoffs, refusing to sit out—even in the face of pain—and still managed to drop double-digit assists and clutch shots that saved the Pacers’ season multiple times.

Another fascinating twist: T.J. McConnell, the veteran backup point guard, turned into an unlikely postseason hero. In Game 3 of the Finals, he recorded 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals—a stat line not seen in the Finals since Gary Payton. How fans dubbed him the “Little General.”

But what really captivated fans was how the Pacers became Indy’s team in every sense:

    •    Every home game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse became a sellout.

    •    Local bars and restaurants saw record playoff crowds.

    •    The team’s blue-collar style—fast-paced offense, high-IQ ball movement, and gritty defense—mirrored the city's no frills work ethic.

We were there from the beginning. Outside the game, fans posed and kids skipped with foam fingers and Pacers shirts.  Even dogs were dressed by fans. City businesses have proudly shown their support with signage and storefronts.  Restaurants created creative Pacers mixed drinks.  As the Pickled Peddlers rode by, they displayed a Pacers flag. People rode scooters, bikes and custom cars, of all sizes, decorated with Pacers colors and or flags. Even Eva Kor, who attended many a game at Market Square Arena, is hoping for one more win! Howl at the Moon held a popular, free throw shooting contest. Wait staff and workers sported the Pacers look. Street musicians played while local vendors like artist, Jarrod Stone, sold their art and merchandise. Police staff were abundant among the crowds. 

Several businesses held watch parties as large as the Living Room Theater.  There continue to be watch parties at the Bicentennial  Unity Plaza, in front of Gainbridge.  Fan, Lisa Breen, has attended the watch parties. Breen stated, "It's nice of the Pacers to provide the opportunity for all fans to participate in the excitement and root for our guys! Also

appreciate that funds raised going to the Pacer Foundation; great way to include the community and promote the brand! The outdoor watch parties are not as intense as the away game indoor watch parties, but a creative way to provide the crowd with a unique, exciting experience! Pacers fans are the best!"

Perhaps the most symbolic was Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis. The Pacers, facing elimination, blew out the Thunder 116–103 in front of a deafening home crowd, at one point going up by 31. The atmosphere was electric—some said it felt like a college game at Hinkle Fieldhouse rather than an NBA Finals match.

At game 6, the fans filed out of the stadium like salmons in a stream of yellow.  Should we doubt the Pacers will win game 7 after they reawakened  a city's basketball soul, one thing is clear-they are hungry, and the fans are starving with deep community roots.  The ride has already become a defining chapter in Indianapolis sports history.