Why Pacers should be considered a title-contending dark horse versus champion Knicks

While the NBA celebrates the New York Knicks as its 2026 champion, the Indiana Pacers’ return for the fifth overall pick could be the difference in the 2025 Eastern Conference champions contending for a title against the defending champions in 2026-27. Turning that fifth overall pick into Ivica Zubac, there’s plenty to look forward to in Indianapolis. Pacers’ Haliburton will return from an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, as fans still wonder if a healthy Tyrese would have been enough to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Looking ahead to 2026-27, the Pacers are in a good position to compete with the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. Sure, the intrigue of the Pacers adding one of the better players in this year’s draft class, with the fifth overall pick, is still on the back of fans’ minds. However, determining their starting center after losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency was crucial ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The Pacers’ unexpected gap year after losing Haliburton to an Achilles injury added value to Indiana’s first-round pick. Although this is projected to be one of the better draft classes in recent years, the Pacers got a viable Turner replacement in Zubac. And ahead of facing the defending champion Knicks in the Eastern Conference, Indiana is an intriguing dark horse to compete for a title.

That fifth overall pick no longer belongs to the Pacers. However, after watching Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs lose to the Knicks in five games, Indiana can get a better sense of what it’ll take to defeat New York in a best-of-7 series. Led by Haliburton and Pacers All-Star Pascal Siakam, Indiana’s supporting cast and projected development make the 2025 Eastern Conference champions a visible threat.

Players such as Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Haliburton will reprise roles that propelled the Pacers to a 4-2 series win over the Knicks in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. All four are 28 and under with plenty of growth ahead of them, especially with Haliburton back in the fold.

At the same time, Siakam and Zubac are in their prime years, which the Pacers will look to maximize in 2026-27, as Indiana looks to challenge the Knicks as the best team in the Eastern Conference, perhaps setting the stage for a playoff rematch in 2027.

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