originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the Indiana Pacers punched their ticket to the 2025 NBA Finals, few fans in Charlotte could watch without wondering: Why not us?
Both franchises added dynamic point guards in the last five seasons. Indiana traded for Tyrese Haliburton and the Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball, yet their roads have diverged dramatically. The Pacers are now Eastern Conference royalty. The Hornets? Coming off a 19-63 season, bad enough for the NBA’s third-worst record.
But there’s a roadmap, and Indiana is holding it.
The Pacers made their leap when they traded for All-Star Pascal Siakam in January.