Hall of Famer Steve Nash has named the Indiana Pacers as his sentimental and analytical pick to win the NBA's Eastern Conference this season. His belief hinges on a full return to health for star guard Tyrese Haliburton. The Pacers are currently in preseason action, coming off a close 114-112 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 13.
Speaking on the Zach Lowe Show, Nash expressed a strong desire to see Indiana succeed. "My nostalgia, my sentimentality says the Pacers. I would love to see the Pacers," Nash said. He acknowledged their incredible run to the 2025 NBA Finals, which ended in a Game 7 loss after Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Nash called it "one of the greatest stories in professional sports" with a "very, very, very tragic end." But he thinks they can do it again. For that to happen, Nash outlined several conditions. Haliburton must be his old self by playoff time. New big man Ivica Zubac needs to fit into the system despite not being a proven three-point shooter. And the team's bench unit must replicate its vital 2025-26 form.
The team is using its exhibition schedule to build chemistry and test rotations. Their preseason results have been a mixed bag, showing both promise and areas to tighten up. They opened with a solid 123-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 7. A narrow 119-117 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks followed on October 10. Their most recent outing was another tight one, a 114-112 loss to the Thunder on October 13. These games are not about the win-loss column but about process and player integration.
The Pacers' immediate focus is their final preseason test, a high-profile matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks at home on October 16. It's a final chance to simulate regular-season intensity against a conference rival before the games start to count. After that, the real work begins. The core question surrounding this team is whether they can turn last season's heartbreaking finish into this season's motivating fuel. Haliburton's recovery and performance level is the single biggest variable. His ability to orchestrate the league's top offense and make clutch plays defines Indiana's ceiling. Nash believes they have what it takes, but he also noted, "They have some things to prove." The preseason has provided glimpses, but the answers will come when the standings begin to take shape.
