This season was always going to be a weird one for the Indiana Pacers. Once Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles, it was widely expected that Indiana wouldn't go on another deep playoff run in 2026. That was especially true once Myles Turner left and joined the Milwaukee Bucks.
Despite a second NBA Finals appearance basically being impossible, this was still going to be an important season for the Pacers. They have a very talented roster even outside of Haliburton and Turner, and this was going to be a unique opportunity for numerous players on the team to step up, take on new roles, and prove that they can help the team compete for a title once they get their star guard back.
Unfortunately for Indiana, that hasn't completely been the case.
The Pacers have dealt with a plethora of injuries this season, and it's been a bit of a nightmare. Roughly two months into the season, they are 6-20 and are just one game ahead of the Washington Wizards, who own the worst record in the NBA, in the standings.
It was always anticipated that the Pacers would be bad this season, but not this bad. At the very least, if they found some hidden gems or new long-term contributors, things wouldn't be all bad for them. However, a little over a quarter into the season, just about nobody is stepping up for the team, and that might be a bigger concern than many are realizing.
Many Pacers are leaving their opportunity on the table
Not all has been bad for Indiana this season, and the team has found some silver linings.
Now as the clear-cut No. 1 option without Haliburton, Pascal Siakam is playing incredible basketball. Through 25 games, he is averaging 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.9% from deep. He is stepping up in a major way and is reminding the basketball world just how great he still is.
Additionally, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, and Jay Huff have shown a lot of positives and are mostly making the most of their opportunity.
This is essentially where it stops, though.
The Pacers are trying out numerous players this season. Whether it be familiar faces like Jarace Walker or Ben Sheppard, or new names like Garrison Mathews, Ethan Thompson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Cody Martin, etc, many players are getting an opportunity to prove their worth in Indiana.
Thing is, not everybody has been bad. Walker is finally starting to turn things around, Mathews is looking solid, and Thompson looks like he could be a diamond in the rough. However, the real question is whether any of these players can help the Pacers in their quest to win a championship. And, as it stands, it might not seem that way.
Is Mathews going to be a rotation player in the NBA Finals? Probably not. Would Thompson be one? Again, probably not. And the jury is still out on Walker and what is next in store for him.
The season is still pretty young, and a lot can change. But currently, the Pacers aren't seeing exactly what they were hoping for, and that could be cause for concern. Even once Haliburton makes his return.