The Indiana Pacers have seen the extremes of their NBA history in just the past two seasons: They went from Game 7 of the NBA Finals in 2025 to a franchise-worst 19 wins in 2026.
So which version of the Pacers will we see this season? Expectations are mildly optimistic, but few see them as a championship contender this season.
The Pacers open the season at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 21, at New Orleans, with their home opener on Friday, Oct. 23, against Dallas.
Big questions: Can the Indiana Pacers be contenders again? X-factors, bold predictions with Haliburton's return
NBA power rankings: Are the Indiana Pacers an NBA contender?
Law Murray, The Athletic: 7th
"Tyrese Haliburton’s return is going to be cinema, as he is determined to make up for the lost time that came with Achilles surgery. He even spent his preseason going back to Oklahoma to slay demons. Haliburton expressed regret for his beef with Damian Lillard, only to find a new Bucks point guard to accost in public. I will be watching out for a slow start from the Pacers, but the reality is that when they achieve optimal form, fewer teams are harder to deal with. I’d like them more if they had a little more juice off the bench; they’re asking a lot from Kelly Oubre Jr. and Obi Toppin to provide that."
Stephen Noh, Sporting News: 14th
"Indiana may start slow, but they should finish fast. They have talent that always seems to ramp up as the season progresses, along with an elite coach in Rick Carlisle."
ESPN: 13th
"Biggest strength: Coach Rick Carlisle. Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan's answer was simple before the start of the season. When asked what gives him confidence Indiana can reclaim its spot near the top, he told ESPN: 'We have a coach who figures things out.' Put simply, the Pacers might have to win differently than the five-out, fast-pace offense they ran through the East with a few years ago. They have a different center and the competition is much tougher. But a strength for Indiana under Carlisle in recent years has been closing the season much stronger than it started."
Kurt Helin, NBC Sports: 9th
"The offense has looked dramatically better and has had a flow, even with a rusty Tyrese Haliburton back in the preseason. It’s a very positive sign. Haliburton has a Steve Nash-like impact on a team and an offense because of his pace and style of play, this team was built to maximize that. However, like all the teams at this level in this ranking, the Pacers have questions to answer. For one, how Haliburton and Ivica Zubac mesh will be one thing to watch early in the season."
Kevin O'Connell, Yahoo: 14th
"I cannot fathom what the trauma feels like for a Pacers fan. One win from a championship, and Haliburton tears his Achilles. It's just brutal. So what scares me is the thought: What if that was it? All these new additions were made, Haliburton is back, but how can I let myself feel like this team actually can go all the way? I would hope Pacers fans, and certainly the players, just use it all as fuel. Because if the Pacers do make it all the way back, and if they end up winning it all, it would be one of the most glorious feelings any sports fan has ever felt."
Michael Pina, The Ringer: 13th
"I have no idea what to expect from the Pacers, and I’m pretty sure no team has a wider range of possible outcomes this season. Hopefully, Tyrese Haliburton can conduct Rick Carlisle’s beautifully unpredictable offense like he did before the Achilles injury. If he can, they may win the East. If not, they may not make the playoffs. I’d feel more confident about this group’s ability to rekindle the magic they enjoyed during the 2024-25 postseason if they didn’t surrender their lottery pick to the Clippers. Daydreaming about these Pacers with Caleb Wilson or Darryn Peterson is a futile exercise, but, alas, we’re only human over here. Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner are gone, effectively replaced by Ivica Zubac and Kelly Oubre Jr. That’s good! But I still want to see how the holdovers who endured basketball hell last season look as they finally recover from what was one of the most devastating gut punches any team in league history has ever had to absorb."
Andy Bailey, Bleacher Report: 16th
"Thanks to the risky trade that landed them Ivica Zubac, the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton-less gap year didn't yield a lottery pick.
"But at this point in their careers, the bigger and better-rebounding Zubac is likely an upgrade over Myles Turner. That's the only change in a starting lineup that led the Pacers to the NBA Finals.
"With Haliburton back, Indiana suddenly has some of the best starters in the East again. TJ McConnell, Kelly Oubre and Obi Toppin provide solid depth."
John Schuhmann, NBA.com: 14th
"Tyrese Haliburton is back and the Pacers are the GM’s favorite to be the most improved team in the league. They’ve got nowhere to go but up, but can they rise back to the level of title contender?"
Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Where are the Indiana Pacers in the NBA power rankings entering 2026-27 season?
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.