Kobe Brown did a lot of things right in the Indiana Pacers’ preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored 10 points, hit 50% of his shots, grabbed five rebounds and logged 30 minutes while showing he could fit into the flow as a useful piece.
And yet one moment is going to stick.
After drawing an and-one chance in the closing seconds of regulation, Brown missed the free throw that could have finished the job. The game went to overtime, and the Pacers ended up falling heartbreakingly close.
In the preseason, it’s the kind of mistake that shouldn’t loom this large. But it does, because trust in this league is fragile.
That’s what makes the miss feel so costly for Brown. He is the kind of player the NBA moves through quickly, and his place on a two-way deal gives him little protection from getting squeezed out. He’s talented enough to matter, but not so secure that one ugly moment can be shrugged off without consequence.
Brown’s path to this point is easy to overlook. He came over in the Ivica Zubac trade, though most of the attention around that deal has gone to the 2025 first-round pick that became Keaton Wagler, the 2029 pick the Los Angeles Clippers were forced to abandon after they were found guilty of circumnavigating the cap, and even the second-round pick still waiting to be conveyed. Brown rarely gets mentioned in that conversation, even though he was part of the return.
The former Missouri Tiger still has some numbers on his side. Across 27 games, he played 25 minutes per game and shot 50/43/79 from the relevant spots on the court, while adding a little extra scoring and playmaking for a Pacers team that needed every bit of it.
But the current roster doesn’t promise the same runway. Brown’s best path was to climb into the fourth forward spot behind Kelly Oubre Jr., Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, and even that battle is crowded with at least four other players in the mix.
None of this means a preseason free throw seals his fate. But in the NBA, missed chances linger. If Brown was trying to build trust, that last shot made the next step a little harder.
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Pacers-Bucks Got Heated Again As Indianas Starters Sent A Message
The preseason meeting with Milwaukee carried a little more edge than the calendar might suggest, and it started before the opening tip even really settled in. Pacers fans made their feelings known when former Indiana center Myles Turner was introduced, and the game quickly took on the familiar physical tone these matchups have been known for, with Ryan Rollins and Tyrese Haliburton getting tangled up in an altercation that added to the tension.
Indianas starters answered with the kind of first-half showing that tends to travel well into the regular season. Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam were all in the middle of the action, while Ivica Zubac helped steady the defensive end as the Pacers built their edge with activity on both ends. It was the sort of stretch that suggested Indiana was less interested in the preseason label and more focused on sending its own message. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Make Final Roster Cuts With One Veteran's Future Unclear
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Johnsons situation is the one worth watching from here, even if there is no sign of an immediate reunion. The earliest he could return is Nov. 5, 2026, and general manager Chad Buchanan said the Pacers will keep evaluating roster needs as the year unfolds, which leaves the door open for future moves if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]
Former Pacers Pick Is Suddenly Making A Case In Milwaukee
As the Pacers get ready to close out the preseason against Milwaukee, there is at least one familiar name on the other bench worth keeping an eye on. The Bucks have four former Pacers on their roster, and rookie guard Kam Jones has been the one drawing the most attention after turning heads with his work over the summer and into exhibition play.
Bucks assistant coach Jenkins praised Jones development, pointing to clear growth on offense and better activity on defense. Jones already flashed that progress with a 23-point outing in 22 minutes against the Chicago Bulls, and now he is trying to carry that momentum into his second NBA season as Milwaukee keeps sorting out what it has in a young backcourt option who once belonged to Indiana. [Read more 🡒]