The New York Knicks are your 2026 NBA champions. That sentence alone might make Pacers fans wince, but here’s the twist: Indiana might be the single most dangerous team the reigning champs face next season.
It’s not just about Tyrese Haliburton recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals against Oklahoma City. It’s about what the Pacers did while he was gone — and a quiet trade that completely reshaped their frontcourt.
The Zubac Gamble
After losing Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, the Pacers faced a glaring hole at center. Their solution? Turn the fifth overall pick in a deep 2026 draft class into Ivica Zubac.
The trade raised eyebrows. The draft is loaded with talent. But the Pacers needed a reliable, physical center ready to battle New York’s size in the paint. Zubac fits that role like a glove. He’s in his prime, he doesn’t need the ball to impact the game, and he gives Indiana something they lacked last season: a genuine rim deterrent who can also step out and defend the pick-and-roll.
The organization believes Zubac is a viable, immediate upgrade over what they had — and a clear message that they aren’t rebuilding. They’re contending.
The Core That Beat New York Once
Let’s not forget this Pacers roster already owns a 4-2 series win over the Knicks in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. That wasn’t a fluke. Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith all played major roles in that series. Every one of them is under 28, except Siakam and Zubac, who are both still in their prime windows.
The supporting cast is deeper than people give it credit for. Nembhard has developed into a playoff-grade two-way guard. Toppin’s athleticism gives Indiana a different gear in transition. Nesmith is a dogged defender who can knock down open threes. And now, with Haliburton back at full health, the floor general is back running the show.
According to reports, Haliburton’s rehab has gone smoothly, and the team expects him to be at 100 percent for training camp. Fans online have already started buzzing about what a healthy Haliburton — one who averaged nearly 30 points and 12 assists in that 2025 playoff run — can do against a Knicks defense that just grinded past Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in five games.
The Underdog Case
The Knicks are deservedly the favorites to repeat. They just hoisted the trophy. Jalen Brunson is in his prime. The roster is battle-tested. But the Pacers present a matchup problem that New York struggled with during the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals: pace and spacing.
Indiana wants to run. They want to shoot threes early in the clock. They want to force the Knicks into a track meet instead of a half-court slog. With Zubac anchoring the defense, they can afford to gamble more on the perimeter.
The stars are aligning for a potential playoff rematch. Maybe that’s the storyline nobody is paying enough attention to. The defending champs might be the favorites, but the team that knows exactly how to beat them is lurking right behind them in the standings.
Dark horse? Absolutely. But don’t be surprised if that dark horse walks into Madison Square Garden next May and steals the crown.
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