Indiana Pacers 2025-2026 guide: Roster, Depth Chart & Key Players
The injury to Tyrese Haliburton is a massive blow for the Pacers, who will now have to make the most of this season by focusing on developing the young talent around him
The Rick Carlisle era in Indiana reached its peak with the 2024–2025 NBA Finals, a testament to the remarkable work of the former Mavs coach. However, Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 not only compromised that series but will likely affect the entire upcoming season.
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Key Players
Without both Haliburton and Myles Turner (for different reasons), Pascal Siakam (F, 14.0 cr) will need to step up as the unquestioned leader of this team. Beyond his emotional presence, it’ll be crucial for the Cameroonian forward to increase his shooting volume and offensive involvement. When asked to carry that kind of load in his Toronto years, he responded well, so it’s fair to give him our trust once again.
Andrew Nembhard (G, 11.0 cr) will take over point guard duties in place of Haliburton. His impressive leap during last season’s Playoffs suggests he’s ready to continue that growth, setting him up for a potential career year as Indiana’s floor general.
Possible Surprises
The lack of depth among big men will make Obi Toppin (F, 8.0 cr) even more central to the Pacers plans. The former Knick’s ability to attack the rim fits perfectly in a high-tempo system like Carlisle’s, making him a solid value pick at a reasonable price.
But the true steal for Indiana could be Bennedict Mathurin (G, 8.0 cr). As Carlisle has already stated, Mathurin will start this year and finally get all the shot opportunities he’s been seeking. Playing with more freedom and fewer expectations could unlock the version of Mathurin we’ve only seen in flashes, potentially turning him into the elite scorer Indiana has been looking for to pair with Haliburton for the future.
Players to Avoid
As often happens in these kinds of transitional situations, there aren’t any real “must-avoid” players on this roster. With fast-paced games, deep rotations, and high-scoring matchups, Carlisle is expected to spread minutes and opportunities fairly evenly across the lineup.
Likely Starting Lineup
PG: Andrew Nembhard (Guard, 11.0 credits)
SG: Bennedict Mathurin (Guard, 8.0 credits)
SF: Aaron Nesmith (Forward, 8.5 credits)
PF: Pascal Siakam (Forward, 14.0 credits)
C: Isaiah Jackson (Center, 4.0 credits)
Power Ranking
The bright -and dark – side of today’s Eastern Conference is that there’s room for everyone, even for teams without major ambitions like these Pacers. This season without Haliburton could be the perfect opportunity to develop the young core and aim for a strong position in the next Draft. Still, given the low overall competition level, don’t rule out an unexpected run around the Play-In zone.
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Dunkest Fantasy Basketball Player List NBA 2025/26
To make life easier for all draft mode enthusiasts, we’ve made the Dunkest NBA 2025/26 player list available for download in Excel format, so you can start planning your auction in the coming days.