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Larry Nance Jr. Praises Pacers Culture After Joining Sixth NBA Team
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- Larry Nance Jr. Praises Pacers Culture After Joining Sixth NBA Team
(Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Larry Nance Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Indiana Pacers in July, a week after Indiana added Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency.
Along with center Ivica Zubac, they are the new veterans on a roster that opens the season Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Nance describes this Pacers team as one built on process and speed.
"Honestly, it's less so what we've done, even at practice. People here have just made me feel super welcome," Nance said. "This is an incredible organization. A lot of places talk about culture, but this is a culture. These guys work hard. They are in here early on off days. It's really good for me to see, really good for other guys to see as well."
"[I'm] just getting here, but I feel welcome," Nance continued. "But they've done an awesome job, the front office, the coaching staff, the players, of kind of opening their arms. And me, Kelly, some of the new guys, really doing a good job of ingratiating us."
Nance Sees Pacers Culture Firsthand
Indiana is the sixth stop of Nance's career. He spent parts of four seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Los Angeles Lakers traded him there in February 2018, and he signed a four-year, $44.8 million extension with Cleveland that October.
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He came to Indianapolis from his second stint with the Cavaliers, where he appeared in 35 games last season.
Oubre came over from the Philadelphia 76ers , where he put up 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists a game last season on 46.7% shooting. Indiana gave him two years and $17 million.
Five games. That is all Zubac got in Indiana after the Feb. 5 trade with the LA Clippers before his season was over.
The Pacers went to the Eastern Conference finals in 2024 and the NBA Finals in 2025, losing Game 7 to Oklahoma City. Last season, with Tyrese Haliburton out after tearing his right Achilles tendon in that game, Indiana won 19 times.
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General manager Chad Buchanan told ESPN's Jamal Collier this month that the team has "a great coach who figures things out" when asked about the Haliburton-Zubac pick-and-roll.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, talking about Quenton Jackson, said the backup guard is "everything that we are trying to be about" from a culture standpoint.
James Johnson Still Part of Pacers' Culture
On Sept. 22, the Pacers brought in James Johnson on an Exhibit 9 training camp contract. Johnson is 39, with 16 NBA seasons behind him.
He got waived Oct. 17, two days before opening-night rosters were due.
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"He's a tone setter," Carlisle said, according to Fieldhouse Files. "He's a great leader in the locker room. He's a great practice player. He's working with players on situations and all kinds of different things. And, you know, our guys love him. They have great respect for him."
The hope is to bring Johnson back next month, Fieldhouse Files' Scott Agness reported , once the prorated cost of a veteran minimum fits under the first apron. Results, injuries, or another player shaking loose could change that.
Indiana is in the luxury tax and operating close to the first apron, where it is hard-capped. The Pacers carry 14 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
The Pacers were off Sunday after the preseason finale, a 128-127 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, lead assistant Lloyd Pierce said .
Wednesday's game at Smoothie King Center tips at 8 p.m. ET. Two nights later, the Dallas Mavericks come to Indianapolis for the home opener, with a 7 p.m. ET start.
