The Indiana Mad Ants - now known as the Indiana Mad Ants Boom - tipped off their 2026 home slate Thursday night at The Arena at Innovation Mile, and while the scoreboard read 102-92 in favor of the visiting Grand Rapids Gold, the bigger story wasn’t the result. It was who wasn’t on the floor.
Kyle Guy, the team’s leading scorer, playmaker, and heartbeat through the early part of the season, is heading overseas. The Boom guard has agreed to a contract buyout and will finish the season in China, opting for an international opportunity that offers both a new challenge and, let’s be real, a more lucrative paycheck than the G League’s standard $45,000 salary.
For a player like Guy - a proven contributor with NBA experience and a game that still turns heads - this move isn’t surprising. What is notable is how the Boom handled it, and what it says about the culture they’re building in Noblesville.
“Better Basketball Opportunities” - More Than Just a Motto
Walk through the Boom’s new facility and you’ll see the phrase “Better Basketball Opportunities” painted outside the locker room. It’s not just branding. It’s a mission statement, and one that general manager Chris Taylor takes seriously.
“We try to let our culture speak for itself - that it’s not just a sign on the wall, that it’s something we truly live by,” Taylor said Thursday. “We try to put our players in the best position possible.”
That means developing talent, yes. But it also means helping players move on - even if that means moving out.
Guy’s departure is a prime example. The Boom didn’t just accommodate the move; they supported it.
Taylor, who’s been with the Pacers organization since 2012 and GM of the G League affiliate for nearly five years, stays plugged in with agents, scouts, and front offices across the NBA and abroad. And with the G League Winter Showcase wrapping up just before Christmas - a hotspot for scouts from all over the world - it was only a matter of time before Guy drew serious interest.
“Our guys have been performing, Kyle particularly, at a very high level,” Taylor said. “So I knew there were gonna be some calls.”
A Pro’s Pro
Guy made an instant impact in Indiana - not just with his play, but with his presence. On opening night at the Boom’s new home, it was Guy who took the mic to welcome fans to the franchise’s next chapter. It was a fitting image: a hometown product (Guy is an Indianapolis native), front and center, leading the way.
He led the team in minutes, points, and assists, but his influence stretched beyond the stat sheet.
“He’s such a good pro,” said head coach Tom Hankins. “We’re going to miss him.”
And it wasn’t just about what he brought on the floor. “He may have been even better off the court,” Hankins added - a testament to the kind of leadership and professionalism Guy brought to a young roster.
What’s Next for the Boom?
The Boom are in the middle of a three-game homestand and now find themselves adjusting on the fly without their floor general. Against Grand Rapids, they struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting just 39% from the field.
Rookie Kam Jones, assigned from the Pacers for the second straight game, started alongside two-way guards Ethan Thompson and Taelon Peter. Jones tweaked his right ankle in the fourth quarter but played through it - a small bright spot in an otherwise tough night.
Meanwhile, the Pacers wrap up a four-game homestand of their own Friday against the Pelicans, with front office brass - including owner Steve Simon, PS&E CEO Mel Raines, GM Chad Buchanan, and player development coach Isaac Yacob - all present courtside Thursday to keep tabs on the Boom’s progress.
Injury-wise, Bennedict Mathurin (right thumb sprain) and Isaiah Jackson (concussion) remain sidelined. With the NBA trade deadline looming just three weeks away (Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. ET), roster movement is on the horizon.
Around the Organization
Elsewhere in the Pacers’ orbit, former Indiana forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl signed a 10-day contract with the Dallas Mavericks via hardship exception. He’d previously signed two similar deals with the Pacers earlier this season.
On the Fever side, the front office continues to evolve. Cory Price has been brought in as the senior director of player health and performance, while Carisa Ramirez joins as basketball administration coordinator.
And in a nod to the growing sports landscape in Indiana, the Boom moved Monday’s tip time to avoid conflicting with IU’s appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship - a smart move in a state where basketball and football both command serious attention.
Final Word
Kyle Guy’s departure is a loss for the Boom, no question. But it’s also a win for the program’s philosophy.
The G League is about development, yes - but development with purpose. And when a player earns a better opportunity, whether it’s a 10-day NBA contract or a starring role overseas, that’s a success story.
As Taylor put it: “Hopefully it’s an NBA call-up to compete at the highest level, but this is a heck of an opportunity - and 100% checks that box of helping him get to a better situation.”
The Boom will regroup and move forward. That’s the nature of the G League. But for Kyle Guy, the next chapter begins overseas - and for the Boom, it’s another example of the culture they’re building in Indiana paying off.