The Pacers are preparing for a significant NBA Draft Lottery, their first since 1985, with a 14% chance for the No. 1 pick. This lottery is crucial as they come off their worst season in franchise history.
Key points
Pacers have a 14% chance for the No. 1 pick
Upcoming lottery is their first since 1985
They finished with the worst record in franchise history
Pacers have entered 12 of 41 lotteries
They have never earned a No. 1 pick
Mentioned in this story
Herb SimonDavid SternChicago
PacersKnicks
INDIANAPOLIS --The first NBA Draft Lottery ended with Pacers owner Herb Simon in a split screen on CBS with Dave DeBusschere, the Hall-of-Fame player with the Knicks who, at the time, was the Knicks' director of basketball operations. Cameras in a Waldorf Astoria conference room focused on them as commissioner David Stern opened envelopes to determine which of the two was going to get the opportunity to pick Patrick Ewing, who was coming off an overwhelmingly dominant career at Georgetown.
Stern opened the envelope with the second pick first with the Pacers logo first, so Simon stood up, slapped his hands against the table and appeared to offer his congratulations to DeBusschere, who landed a player who turned out to be an 11-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA pick and Hall-of-Famer.
The Pacers are approaching a lottery that could take on even more significance for their franchise than any lottery since that one. They are coming off the worst record in franchise history, and so on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Chicago, they will enter the lottery as one of three teams with the best possible odds -- 14% for the No. 1 overall pick and 52.1% for any of the top four picks -- and the best odds they've had in 37 years since the lottery switched from envelopes to ping-pong balls.
In between the 1985 lottery and this one, the Pacers haven't participated in the process very much because they've made the playoffs more in that time than they haven't. Even when they have missed the postseason, they haven't missed it by much and have generally entered it with low lottery odds. They've had entries in just 12 of 41 lotteries heading into this season. In seven of those 12 lotteries, they've had less than a 2% chance of landing the No. 1 pick. They've never earned a No. 1 pick and they haven't had a pick in the top five since 1988.
Still, the Pacers have done relatively well in procuring talent in the years they've been in the lottery, drafting some core pieces to the teams that led them to 16 playoff appearances in 17 seasons from 1989-2006. The lottery hasn't always treated them well, but it hasn't treated them poorly either.
Here's a look at the Pacers' lottery history year-by-year, their wins, their losses, and the years they held steady.
Q&A
What are the Pacers' odds in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery?
The Pacers have a 14% chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick and a 52.1% chance of landing one of the top four picks.
When did the Pacers last participate in the NBA Draft Lottery?
The Pacers last participated in the NBA Draft Lottery in 1985.
How many times have the Pacers entered the NBA Draft Lottery?
The Pacers have entered the NBA Draft Lottery 12 times out of 41 lotteries since its inception.
What is the significance of the upcoming lottery for the Pacers?
The upcoming lottery is significant as it represents the Pacers' best odds in 37 years, following their worst record in franchise history.
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Wayman Tisdale with the Indiana Pacers in 1988.
10-02-97///Pacers center Rik Smits was all smiles as he joked with reporters on media day at Market Square Arena.
George McCloud, the number one draft pick of the Pacers in 1989 sits at a table with team general manager Donnie Walsh.
Austin Croshere parlayed his play in the Finals into big money.
Feb 3, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) defends in the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots during the scrimmage portion of Pacers FanJam on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte (3) stands during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of a game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) walks up the court Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Wayman Tisdale with the Indiana Pacers in 1988.
1 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Wayman Tisdale with the Indiana Pacers in 1988.
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See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
10-02-97///Pacers center Rik Smits was all smiles as he joked with reporters on media day at Market Square Arena.
3 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
George McCloud, the number one draft pick of the Pacers in 1989 sits at a table with team general manager Donnie Walsh.
4 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Austin Croshere parlayed his play in the Finals into big money.
5 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Feb 3, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) defends in the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
6 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots during the scrimmage portion of Pacers FanJam on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
7 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte (3) stands during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
8 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of a game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
9 / 9
See every Indiana Pacers lottery pick from Wayman Tisdale to Jarace Walker
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) walks up the court Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
1985
Regular Season Finish: 22-60. Tied with Golden State Warriors for worst record in the NBA
Odds at No. 1 pick: 14.29%.
Pacers' pick: No. 2. Who they picked: Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma
Who went No. 1: Patrick Ewing to the Knicks
The story: The first draft lottery remains arguably the most controversial. Prior to 1985, the NBA determined the top two picks through a coin flip between the teams with the worst record in each conference. It moved to a lottery system to discourage tanking and, at first, the teams that didn't make the playoffs all had the same odds. The league put seven envelopes with logos of the seven teams that failed to make the playoffs into the drum, spun the drum around and had then-commissioner Stern pick out envelopes for all seven picks.
Because Stern was a New Yorker, the Knicks are in the league's biggest market and Patrick Ewing was considered a surefire superstar, conspiracy theories materialized immediately that Stern had rigged the system, including that he had frozen the Knicks' envelope so he'd know which one to pick first.
Of course, none of that has ever been proven, and though Ewing was one of the most coveted picks of all time, the Pacers were still in an enviable position at No. 2. In Tisdale, they took a 6-9 power forward who averaged 25.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in three seasons at Oklahoma. He was named Big 8 Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American in all three seasons and earned a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics on the team coached by Bob Knight.
Tisdale had a productive 12-year NBA career and averaged 15.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in 3 1/2 seasons with the Pacers, but he was traded to Sacramento in February of 1989 with a second-round pick for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Wiittman. Though Tisdale probably seemed like the obvious choice at the time, the Pacers left Hall of Famers on the board in Chris Mullin, who went to the Warriors at No. 7, Karl Malone who went to the Jazz at No. 13 and Joe Dumars who the Pistons took at No. 18.
1986
Regular Season Finish: 26-56, second-worst record in NBA. Odds at No. 1 pick: 14.29%
Pacers pick: No. 4 Who they picked: Chuck Person, Auburn
The story: The second year of the lottery made slight tweaks to the format. Three of the seven teams involved in the lottery got into it via trades, and instead of having Stern pick the the envelopes out of the drum, the envelopes were chosen by each of the seven men representing the teams at the lottery, In the Pacers' case, that was general manager Donnie Walsh.
The 1986 class didn't have a sure thing in it like Ewing. The 76ers won the lottery, but traded the pick to the Cavaliers for forward Roy Hinson, and Cleveland ended up taking Daugherty.
The class turned out to be star-crossed, a description symbolized most tragically by the death of Len Bias. The Maryland All-American was taken by the Celtics -- who had traded into the draft in the midst of a title run -- with the No. 2 pick overall but he died of a cocaine overdose when he returned to campus after the draft. The No. 3 pick, North Carolina State Chris Washburn, played just 72 games over three seasons with the Warriors and Hawks before he received a lifetime ban from the league for failing three drug tests in three seasons. Drazen Petrovic, the 60th overall pick in the third round, was one of the most successful players in the class until he was killed in a car crash in Germany at age 28.
Person ended up being one of the most prolific players in the class and won Rookie of the Year honors with the second-highest scoring rookie season in Pacers franchise history with 18.8 points per game. The 6-8 forward was one of just nine players who spent at least 12 years in the league, he scored the third-most total points in the class behind No. 46 pick Jeff Hornacek and No. 8 pick Ron Harper Jr. His 14.7 points per game put him fourth in the class behind Daugherty, Petrovic, and Mark Price. Person averaged 19.0 points per game in six seasons with the Pacers and helped them to four playoff trips in those seasons before he was traded to the Timberwolves in September of 1992 with Micheal Williams for Sam Mitchell and Pooh Richardson.
10-02-97///Pacers center Rik Smits was all smiles as he joked with reporters on media day at Market Square Arena.
10-02-97///Pacers center Rik Smits was all smiles as he joked with reporters on media day at Market Square Arena.
1988
Regular season record: 38-44, seventh-worst in the NBA. Odds at No. 1 pick: 14.29%
Pacers pick: No. 2 Who they picked: Rik Smits, Marist
The story: The Pacers finished the regular season in a three-way tie with the then-Washington Bullets and Knicks for the last two spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they lost out on a postseason shot on a tiebreaker with the deciding factor being a loss to the Knicks at home in the last regular season game.
Missing the playoffs led to their greatest lottery over-performance in franchise history and to landing a key piece that solidified the roster. They took a bit of a flyer on 7-4 Rik Smits, the Netherlands native who spent four seasons at small-college Marist and was his conference Player of the Year in the last two seasons.
Smits ended up being the fourth-leading scorer in a solid if unspectacular draft class with only Mitch Richmond, Hersey Hawkins and Rod Strickland scoring more. He spent all 12 of his NBA seasons in Indiana, serving as the Pacers' anchor at center through 10 playoff appearances, five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and one NBA Finals trip. He was first-team All-Rookie in 1988-89 and an All-Star in 1997-98, averaging 14.8 points. 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in his career.
George McCloud, the number one draft pick of the Pacers in 1989 sits at a table with team general manager Donnie Walsh.
George McCloud, the number one draft pick of the Pacers in 1989 sits at a table with team general manager Donnie Walsh.
1989
Regular season record: 28-54, seventh-worst in the NBA. Pacers' odds at No. 1: 11.11%.
Pacers' pick: No. 7 Who they picked: George McCloud, Florida State
The story: Odds for every team dropped when the NBA expanded, first with the Heat and Hornets, then with the Magic and Timberwolves. The Pacers ended up matching their pre-lottery position and took McCloud out of a not particularly loaded class. The 6-8 forward struggled to get a foothold in the Pacers' rotation and never averaged 20 minutes per game in his four seasons in Indiana, leaving with 5.5 points per game. He spent a season out of the NBA in 1993-94 and had more success when he returned to the league with the Mavericks, Lakers, Suns and Nuggets. He averaged 9.0 points per game in 12 NBA seasons.
Among the players the Pacers left on the board were Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, Dino Radjia, Nick Anderson, Clifford Robinson and Mookie Blaylock.
Austin Croshere parlayed his play in the Finals into big money.
Austin Croshere parlayed his play in the Finals into big money.
1997
Regular season record: 39-43, 12th-worst record in the NBA. Pacers' odds at No. 1 pick: 0.83%
Pacers pick: No. 12 Who they picked: Austin Croshere, Providence.
The story: The Pacers returned to the lottery in 1997 after seven straight playoff appearances and found an operation that had changed dramatically since their last appearance. The odds had been weighted to give the non-playoff teams with the worst records much better odds than teams that had just missed the postseason. The envelope-method was replaced with ping-pong balls and the expansion additions of the Raptors and Grizzlies added more teams to the lottery. The Pacers ended up picking in their reverse standings position.
In Croshere, the Pacers took a 6-9 big man who could shoot and had been named All-Big East twice. He moved from center to power forward as a pro and struggled to find a rotation spot in his first two seasons but in Year 3, he averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds off the bench on the Pacers' 2000 Finals team. He averaged 10.1 points. per game the following season and remained a key bench piece in Indiana through 2005-06 when the Pacers traded him to the Mavericks with Marquise Daniels. He played three more seasons with four more teams after that.
Most of the players who ended up being the most productive in the draft were gone by the time Croshere was picked including Tim Duncan (No. 1), Tracy McGrady (No. 9) and Chauncey Billups (No. 3), but Bobby Jackson (No. 23) was still on the board and Stephen Jackson was taken by the Suns at No. 43. Jackson didn't play an NBA game in his first three professional seasons but ended up playing 14 NBA seasons and scoring the fourth-most total points in the class behind Duncan, McGrady and Billups.
Feb 3, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) defends in the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless (0) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) defends in the first half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
2008
Regular season record: 36-46, 11th-worst record in the NBA Pacers' odds at No. 1 pick: 0.8%
Pacers' pick: No. 11. Who they picked: Jerryd Bayless, Arizona
The story: After picking in the lottery in 1997, the Pacers made the playoffs in nine straight years, but the Malice at the Palace in 2004 knocked their trajectory off course. They technically ended up in the lottery again in 2007, but had already traded their pick to the Hawks, who ended up taking Acie Law IV with the selection.
Their return in 2008 was most notable not for the pick they got in the lottery but in the trades they made on draft night. The Pacers entered the night with the No. 11 pick, but ended up taking the No. 13 and 17 picks and also bringing in and moving out several veterans.
With the No. 11 pick, the Pacers took Jerryd Bayless -- a Parade High School All-American who averaged 19.7 points per game in one year at Arizona -- and traded him to the Blazers along with forward Ike Diogu for No. 13 pick Brandon Rush, point guard Jarrett Jack and big man Josh McRoberts. They then acquired No. 17 pick and Georgetown All-American center Roy Hibbert from Toronto with point guard T.J. Ford, veteran forward Maceo Baston and center Rasho Nestrovic for four-time All-Star big man Jermaine O'Neal and second-round pick Nathan Jawai in a move that signaled a change in era.
Hibbert ended up being the most consequential player in the group, spending seven seasons as the Pacers' defensive anchor. He made two All-Star trips, helped lead the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals twice and was the franchise's all-time leading shot-blocker when he was traded to the Lakers in 2015. Ford and Jack ended up being the Pacers' starting backcourt in 2008-09 and both averaged double-figure scoring that season, but Jack left for free agency after one season and Ford left for free agency after three.
Bayless ended up spending 11 seasons in the league but played for eight teams and didn't play more than two seasons for any of them, averaging 8.4 points per game for his career. Rush, who had averaged more than 13 points per game in three seasons at Kansas, spent three seasons with the Pacers and averaged 8.9 points per game before he was traded to Golden State for Lou Amundson and a second-round pick. O'Neal averaged double-figure scoring the next two seasons in Toronto and Miami but then finished his career in bench roles for Boston, Phoenix and Miami.
2009
Regular season finish: 36-46, 13th-worst record in the NBA Pacers' odds at No. 1 pick: 0.6%
Pacers' pick: No. 13 Who they picked:Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
The story: The Pacers finished ninth in the East in 2008-09, just three games behind the eighth-seed Pistons, so their lottery odds weren't great. At pick No. 13, they were still able to pick the most decorated player in college basketball in Hansbrough. "Psycho T" had been named a second-team All-American and national Freshman of the Year in his first season, a first-team All-American in each of his successive seasons and consensus national player of the year in 2007-08 before leading North Carolina to a runaway national title in 2008-09.
Hansbrough's professional career was beset by injuries and he wasn't able to dominate the NBA through sheer force of will as he did the college game. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game over four seasons with the Pacers, mostly coming off the bench. They let him leave in free agency after the 2012-13 season and he played two seasons with the Raptors and one with Charlotte before spending the rest of his career in the D League and overseas.
The story: Despite getting no lottery luck, the Pacers ended up getting the best NBA player in the 2010 draft. He's the gift that keeps on giving even almost nine years after his last game with the franchise.
Paul George didn't have a lot of name recognition in a draft dominated by one of John Calipari's most talented teams at Kentucky with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins leading a class of five Wildcats taken in the first round. George had two strong college seasons, but played for two losing Fresno State teams. However, 16 years later, George is the only player in the class still in the league as he's still starting on a playoff team in Philadelphia. He's made nine All-Star teams, six All-NBA teams and four All-Defensive teams, establishing himself as one of the best two-way perimeter players of his era. He's scored more than 6,500 more points than any other player in the class.
Seven of George's 16 seasons came in Indiana, but he led the Pacers to six playoff trips and two journeys to the Eastern Conference Finals when they fought LeBron James' Miami Heat squads in series that went seven and six games. George requested a trade in 2017 and the Pacers traded him for guard Victor Oladipo and center Domantas Sabonis, who both earned All-Star nods with the Pacers. Indiana traded Sabonis to the Kings in 2022 for point guard Tyrese Haliburton, their current face of the franchise. The Pacers traded Oladipo to the Rockets in a massive multi-team deal that brought them Caris LeVert, and they traded Caris LeVert to Cleveland for draft picks they used to select starting guard Andrew Nembhard and reserve Ben Sheppard.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots during the scrimmage portion of Pacers FanJam on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) shoots during the scrimmage portion of Pacers FanJam on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
2015
Regular season record: 38-44, 11th-worst record in the NBA. Pacers' odds at No. 1 pick: 0.8%
Pacers' pick: No. 11 Who they picked:Myles Turner, Texas.
The story: Paul George suffered a gruesome broken leg in an exhibition with Team USA in August 2014 leading up to the FIBA World Cup, and that derailed the Pacers' 2014-15 season before it started. George made it back to play six games, but the Pacers missed out on the playoffs because they lost the head-to-head tiebreaker with Brooklyn.
However, that postseason sabbatical helped them land their next great shot-blocker and a key piece of their next NBA Finals team. Myles Turner was a stalwart starting big man across multiple roster shuffles with the Pacers and despite near-constant trade rumors, he was still around in 2022 when they traded his frontcourt mate Sabonis for Haliburton and formulated their new core.
Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte (3) stands during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte (3) stands during a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
2021
Regular season record: 34-38, 13th-worst record in NBA. Pacers odds at No. 1 pick: 1%
Pacers' pick: No. 13. Who they picked:Chris Duarte, Oregon
The story: The Pacers found themselves back in the lottery after one season with coach Nate Bjorkgren after they lost to the Wizards in the play-in round. With Rick Carlisle set to take over, they used their lottery pick on 24-year-old guard Chris Duarte, hoping his experience would make him immediately game ready.
Duarte indeed stepped into a big role immediately as a rookie, averaging 13.1 points per game and earning second-team All-Rookie honors. However, a major ankle injury in his second season buried him in the Pacers' wing depth chart as their core started to form around Tyrese Haliburton. Duarte was traded to the Kings that offseason for two second-round picks and then traded to the Bulls the following year. He was waived by the Bulls in February of 2025 and hasn't returned to the NBA since, playing in Puerto Rico last season and Spain this season.
Duarte was one of two players the Pacers got in the 2021 draft as they also took center Isaiah Jackson and later used him in the trade that brought Ivica Zubac to Indiana. However, they also left Hawks All-Star Jalen Johnson, Rockets All-Star center Alperen Sengun and Pelicans defensive ace Herb Jones among others on the draft board.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of a game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of a game Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
2022
Regular season record: 25-57, fifth-worst in the NBA. Odds at No. 1 pick: 10.5%
The story: The Pacers, shall we say, leaned into their rebuild after the trade deadline and posted their worst record since the 80s, which in turn meant their best lottery odds since the envelope era. They weren't selected and actually moved back a slot but still had their highest pick since they took Smits.
Bennedict Mathurin gave the Pacers the best rookie season of any rookie since Smits. He averaged 16.7 points per game in 2022-23 with his 1,302 total points putting him third all-time among Pacers rookies behind only Clark Kellogg and Chuck Person. He became the first Pacers player to be named first-team All-Rookie since Smits in 1988-89.
In 3 1/2 seasons with the Pacers he was always a dependable scorer. He didn't fit as well into the Pacers overall gameplan, especially as it was built around Tyrese Haliburton and constant ball movement. However, Mathurin averaged 14.5 points or better in each of his seasons in Indiana and a combined 16.1 points per game in 237 appearances. The Pacers opted not to extend his rookie scale contract and instead made him central to their trade to the Clippers for center Ivica Zubac. He averaged 17.4 points per game after the trade. He remains third in the class in total points with 4,263 behind only Banchero and Thunder All-NBA forward Jalen Williams.
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) walks up the court Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) walks up the court Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
2023
Regular season record: 35-47, seventh-worst in the NBA. Pacers odds at No. 1 pick: 6.8%
Pacers pick: No. 7. Who they picked (Technically): Bilal Coulibaly, Metropolitans 92 (France). Who they picked (really): Jarace Walker, Houston
Who went No. 1: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio.
The story: The Pacers rebuild picked up momentum faster than they expected so they made progress with their new core rather than tank too hard for Victor Wembanyama. However, they were still happy to go into the lottery with some tickets and they were one lottery number away from landing the 7-4 Frenchman, who is already an MVP finalist with a San Antonio team that has quickly returned to championship contention.
When they missed out on Wembanyama and the other top picks, they looked at forwards with defensive potential. Once the Thompson twins -- Ausar and Amen -- were off the board at No. 4 and No. 5, Jarace Walker seemed like their best fit. However, they managed to squeeze a 2029 second-round pick out of the Wizards by flip-flopping picks and moving back to No. 8 to allow Washington to take Bilal Coulibaly, Wembanyama's French teammate, at No. 7. The Pacers technically made the Coulibaly selection but Walker was their actual choice.
Walker struggled to crack the rotation in his first two seasons as the Pacers made a leap, going to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2024 and the NBA Finals in 2025. However, this season with the Pacers devastated by injuries, Walker was one of just two players who appeared in more than 70 games. He averaged 11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, all career highs, and made a strong case to be a rotation player next season. He's up for a contract extension this offseason and though he certainly won't get a huge deal, he's given the Pacers some reason to think he could be a key part of their future.
Several players taken later than Walker have been more productive so far including Utah's Keyonte George, Oklahoma City's Cason Wallace, the Heat's Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Portland's Toumani Camara, but they all got more immediate playing time and the 22-year-old Walker still has room to grow.