Pacers fans who’ve been waiting on a James Johnson reunion just got a promising sign.
Indiana still has one open roster spot as the 2026-27 NBA season gets closer, and while there’s been talk that Kevin Pritchard and company could keep that slot available for flexibility, Johnson’s name has stayed in the conversation. The veteran forward has become a familiar possibility for fans who remember what he brought to the group.
Johnson didn’t suit up for the Pacers last season, but he had already carved out a real role in the two years before that as part of the team’s leadership core. His impact went beyond the box score. Teammates valued him, and fans enjoyed the minutes he gave them when he got on the floor.
Now there’s a fresh reason for optimism. As Indiana gathered in Nashville for a players-only mini camp focused on building chemistry, Johnson was there too. Sports Illustrated’s Alex Golden was first to report his presence, and that alone has people wondering whether a return to Indiana could be on the table.
On the court, Johnson was never brought in to carry the offense or pile up big numbers. His value came in the background, where he helped steady things and, when needed, could still give the Pacers some useful minutes.
Over time, though, his reputation around the league grew into something bigger than that. He became a mentor, a leader, and one of the NBA’s most recognizable “enforcers” - a player nobody wants to tangle with.
The 39-year-old has had a long run in the league, appearing in 786 games and making 243 starts. His career averages sit at 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and two assists per game, and he’s shot 47.3 percent from the field.
Indiana’s mission entering 2026-27 is simple: win the franchise’s first NBA championship. A player like Johnson wouldn’t be there to change the offense, but his presence could still matter in the room, just as it did during his previous stretch with the Pacers.
Whether the team brings him back is still unknown. But with Johnson showing up at the mini camp and staying around the players, the possibility is clearly still alive.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Just Reminded Everyone What The Pacers Still Depend On
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For the Pacers, the bigger question is less about the rsum and more about what comes next. Haliburton signed a five-year extension in 2023, but there is still speculation about how Indiana will ease him into the upcoming season, which matters because the offense and the bigger picture around the roster still revolve around him. However the Pacers manage the early stretch, they are making it clear that their ceiling still starts with Haliburton. [Read more 🡒]
Myles Turner Just Drew New Attention To What The Pacers Lost
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For Pacers fans, the timing only sharpens the memory of what the team moved on from when Turner signed with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025. Indianas roster has since shifted with Ivica Zubac in the picture, and the contrast is hard to miss: Turner brought a very different style, one that changed how the Pacers could play at both ends. His new role now puts another spotlight on the value he once provided, even as Indiana keeps adjusting to life after him. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburton Just Gave Pacers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Tyrese Haliburtons return is already giving the Pacers something they did not have for most of last season: a clear reason to look ahead. After missing the year with an Achilles tear, he is expected back in the lineup next season, and a recent video of his recovery offered another encouraging sign that he is moving well. Add in the five-year contract extension he signed with Indiana, and the long-term picture around the franchise suddenly feels a lot steadier.
Haliburton has also been open about what the injury process has been like, discussing the experience on a podcast as he works his way back. For a Pacers team projected to bring a strong starting group into the new season, his presence changes everything from the pace of the offense to the ceiling of the roster. The bigger question now is not whether Indiana has its point guard for the future, but how quickly he can rejoin a team that may be ready to make noise again. [Read more 🡒]