Valentine’s Day: the annual showing of love and thanks to the most important people in your life. In some cases, it’s a day to show appreciation for those that don’t get enough love and thanks for the efforts throughout the year. The Indiana Pacers often fit that description as well.
Sports are a source of happiness for individuals all over the globe. They are easy to enjoy and easy to hate depending on the outcomes. There is no better day than February 14 to look past points scored or wins-and-losses to really remember why we love the Indiana Pacers.
Everyone counts the Indiana Pacers out
You know, sometimes a team goes on a losing streak or gets upset in the first round of the playoffs. For a small-market team, those can be very costly in the eyes of popular figures around the league.
It seems the Pacers always begin a season with less than enthusiastic expectations. Somehow, they manage to overachieve by the end of the year. Take this season, for example, many expected Indiana to miss the playoffs. Now, they are tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference, have two legitimate All-Star candidates, and have what will be their deepest rotation in recent memory when they are healthy.
Kevin Pritchard
What’s there to love about Kevin Pritchard? T.J. Warren for cash considerations. A sign-and-trade for Malcolm Brogdon. A disgruntled Paul George for Victor Oladipo AND Domantas Sabonis. We can start with any of those roster moves.
The Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations may have pulled off his greatest move in the eyes of Hoosiers this season when he traded for Caris LeVert. He helped the Pacers move on from the “Never Ending Story” that was Victor Oladipo and committed to literally saving a man’s life when he could have backed out of the trade.
The Simon Family
The Indiana Pacers mean a great deal to Herb Simon. His love for the team and community are still on display now, almost forty years later.
Since purchasing the franchise with his brother Mel in 1983, the team has evolved into one of the most consistently competitive in the league. There have been pitches to sell and/or relocate the franchise but Herb Simon won’t do it. Instead, he invested in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, built a $50 million dollar practice facility, and ensured the team’s home court is one of the best arenas in sports.
The Roster represents Hoosiers
Few have ever doubted the grit, toughness, or determination of the Indiana Pacers since their birth in the ABA way back in 1967. Grit. Toughness. Determination. Three things that also describe what it means to be a Hoosier.
As Hoosiers, we know what we are and that’s all that matters. We don’t need a spotlight or attention. We put in the work, do what needs to be done, and make the best of what we have. If that doesn’t describe almost every Pacers’ team in history, you’re probably not a Pacers fan.