New to the NBA? 5 reasons to join the Pacers’ fandom in 2023-2024
By Tyler Key
1. Logic aside, the Pacers are also going to be super fun
The first four reasons presented all dealt with aspects of team building and situations, but what about just watching basketball for the fun of it? Great question! We know that Haliburton is the star of the show, but the supporting cast in Indiana is super easy to cheer for, regardless of what you value.
Bennedict Mathurin just turned 21 years old and is coming off of a season where he averaged 16.7 PPG and made the 2022–2023 All-Rookie Team. Buddy Hield is a sniper who can hit five or more threes on any given night. Obi Toppin showed promise in New York, and he could truly shine with the change of scenery. Myles Turner is also finally locked into a long-term deal and is still arguably a top-ten center in the league.
Looking at the bench players, the excitement doesn’t fade in the least. The Pacers signed Bruce Brown, who is coming off of an NBA championship where he was a key piece in their rotation and even closed out game 5 of the finals with a clutch basket and two free throws. They also have T.J. McConnell, who plays harder than 99.9% of players in the NBA and still holds the NBA record for steals in a half.
Indiana’s young pipeline got even stronger after the NBA draft, where they selected Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard. Even guys like Jalen Smith, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard showed sparks last season. They will be a must-watch team on League Pass.
Next. Ranking the 10 title-less teams by closeness to title. dark
Whether you are from any of the states without an official NBA team, or an NBA fan from outside of the United States, the Pacers should be the place to start your NBA fandom in 2023-2024.