Fieldhouse Files: Scott Agness on the Indiana Pacers

The Pacers made a few notable moves Wednesday, starting with assistant coach Johnny Carpenter departing after one season to reunite with Taylor Jenkins in Milwaukee. With Carpenter gone, newly-named Boom head coach Bryce Taylor is stepping in to lead the Summer Pacers in Las Vegas. Then Indiana agreed to a one-year veteran minimum deal with Larry Nance Jr. , adding frontcourt experience while waiv...

On this episode of the Fieldhouse Files podcast, I break down the Pacers’ approach to free agency, why adding Kelly Oubre Jr. addressed one of their biggest priorities , and how their financial limitations shaped what they could realistically do. The Pacers are now into the luxury tax and close to the first apron, so patience makes sense. But that patience comes with pressure — especially as the E...

The Pacers once again found a way into the second round of the NBA Draft — and this move should not have come as a surprise. It matches what the front office has done in recent years: staying active, identifying value and being willing to move into the draft when there’s a player they like. This time, Indiana acquired the No. 38 pick from the Chicago Bulls and used it to select 5-foot-10 guard Bra...

An inside look at the Indiana Pacers Draft Lottery party for season-tickets holders on Sunday afternoon. The team had a 52.1% chance of keeping their pick — and they did not. They came up 5th, so it conveyed to the LA Clippers as part of the mid-season deal for Ivica Zubac . Plus, my analysis on day and what's next. And hear from Chris Denari , the TV play-by-play voice of the Pacers. ----- Fo...

Live reaction and analysis on the Indiana Fever's three moves on Sunday. The front office continues shaping the roster, bringing back Sophie Cunningham and Damiris Dantas while adding guard Tyasha Harris — an Indy product. Here’s a live breakdown (from YouTube Live) of what the moves mean for roster construction, depth, and what could come next as the team prepares for the 2026 season. But fir...

Live reaction and analysis as the Indiana Fever re-sign Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull while adding Monique Billings and Ty Harris in free agency. What do these moves mean for the roster, rotation, and expectations heading into the season? Breaking down the fit, impact, and what could come next for the Fever. ----- Follow Scott on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠T...

On this episode of the Fieldhouse Files …. It’s an emergency podcast after the WNBA and players union reached a tentative agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. And so now, the season should start on time. What to expect, the many questions, and what it means for the Fever... ----- Follow Scott on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

On this episode of the Fieldhouse Files podcast, I’ve got a very special interview. You know Larry Bird — the Pacers head coach and then team president. But New York Times best-selling author Keith O’Brien wanted to look back the origin of Bird, so he did. O'Brien's new book, “Heartland” is out this week and he joined to discuss his findings. Among the items discussed on this episode: Why this spe...

On this episode of the Fieldhouse Files podcast , I went live on YouTube Thursday night to react to the  Pacers acquiring center  Ivica Zubac   from the LA Clippers, how he’ll impact the team, and potential concerns about the deal. Among the items discussed on this episode: The full breakdown of the trade The gamble involved with limited draft protections and what it signals about the Pacers’ thin...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, after a gloomy start, the Pacers went on their first win streak, and went 3-1 on a homestand before heading on the road.  Rick Carlisle  celebrated his 1,000th career win at last, news with the Boom and Pacers Sports & Entertainment. And then, I’ve got to talk IU football before leaving for the national title game Among the items discussed on...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, the Pacers are 40% into the season (6-27), a season that hasn’t gone according to plan. I’ll discuss what we’ve seen so far, and look back at 2025. Among the items discussed on this episode: The Pacers’ run to Game 7 of the NBA Finals. A banner year in Indiana basketball, including the Fever being one quarter away from their first WNBA Finals appe...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, another new Pacers season is here… already. Reaction to the first week of training camp, players poised for big seasons, injury updates, & more. Among the items discussed on this episode: The passing of  Nancy Leonard   and her impact on the franchise Injury updates:  Haliburton, McConnell, Wright, Sheppard, Jones Adding  Cam Payne  and point...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, ESPN NBA analyst  Tim Legler  joins to look back at the NBA Finals and the Pacers’ memorable season that ended in devastation —  Tyrese Haliburton  suffering a torn right Achilles tendon seven minutes into Game 7. Among the items discussed on this episode: What he appreciated about the construct and integrity of the Pacers How there was no villain...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 22, 2025 after the Pacers came up short in Game 7, losing to the Thunder 103-91 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tyrese Haliburton suffered a torn right Achilles with 4:55 left in the first quarter — and he watched the rest of the game in the locker r...

It's all come down to Sunday: Game 7 in OKC. The Pacers have been the underdog in all seven games. Their biggest advantage is their coaching staff, led by Rick Carlisle . Tyrese Haliburton is gutting through an injury to be out there — and the bench has shined. Here's a preview podcast, recorded seven hours before the biggest game in NBA franchise history. Join me on YouTube after every Pa...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 19, 2025 after ⁠the Pacers' 108-91 Game 6 win over the OKC Thunder on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 2025 NBA Championship will now be decided on Sunday with Game 7. No matter who wins, it will mark the first NBA title in franchise history — a...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 16, 2025 after ⁠the Pacers' 120-109 Game 5 loss in Oklahoma City on Monday at Paycom Center. They trailed most of the game, but got to within two points with 8:30 to go. Then, OKC went on a 18-4 run and Jalen Williams finished with 40 points. The Pacers...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 13, 2025 after ⁠the Pacers' 111-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers led most of the game and by four (103-99) with 3:20. But then, they didn't make another shot and were outscored 12-1 to close the game...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 11, 2025 after ⁠the Pacers' 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Haliburton nearly recorded a triple-double, McConnell was special, and Mathurin had a memorable showing with 27 points. The Pacers now have a 2-1 series le...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 8, 2025 after the Pacers' 123-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday . They were outscored in each of the first three quarters, trailed by as many as 23 points, and it was the stifling defense of OKC that shined. The series is now even at 1-1 with Ga...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from June 5, 2025 after the Pacers upset the OKC Thunder to open the NBA Finals with a 111-110 win. Tyrese Haliburton sank a pull-up jumper from 21 feet with 0.3 seconds remaining to give the Pacers their only lead of the game. It's the only one that mattered. Join me on...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, it’s Indiana and Oklahoma City meeting in the 2025 NBA Finals. So  Andrew Schlecht  in OKC joins me to preview the series — and it’s remarkable the similarities between the teams, how they operate, and what fuels them. Among the items discussed on this episode: My initial thoughts on the series 06:15 Andrew Schlecht on the matchup 14:00 Similar ti...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from May 31, 2025 after the Pacers disposed of the Knicks 125-108 in Game 6 to finish the series. They have now reached the NBA Finals for the second time (last in 2000). They will face the OKC Thunder beginning on June 5. Join me on YouTube after every Pacers playoff game for my...

Here's the audio of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my live YouTube Pacers postgame show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from May 29, 2025 after the Knicks' 111-94 win in Game 5 to extend the series . The Pacers never led and trailed by as many as 22 in a game where their starters only contributed 37 points. It was their first game this postseason held below 100 points. The Pacers own a 3-2 series lea...

On this episode of the  Fieldhouse Files  podcast, the Pacers took a commanding 3-1 series lead on the New York Knicks. A look back  at their Game 4 win  — and the series — with  Fred Katz  of The Athletic. Among the items discussed on this episode: Haliburton’s masterpiece Pacers knowing exactly who they are Rick Carlisle  calling up  Bennedict Mathurin How Aaron Nesmith worked to be available — ...