Kelly Oubre Jr. hasn’t even gotten through training camp with the Pacers, and Rick Carlisle is already making it clear why Indiana wanted him.
The Pacers coach said the veteran wing has stood out early, pointing to a strong practice showing at both ends of the floor. Carlisle described Oubre as active, physical and disruptive, while also noting the scoring touch that made him appealing in the first place.
“He had a great day today. He had a large impact on practice today at both ends,” Carlisle said, via Circle City Spin.
“He shot the ball really well. Defensively, he's sticky, he's tough, he's difficult to screen, and he's an edgy competitor.
So it's exactly what we need.”
Indiana brought in Oubre on a two-year, nearly $17 million deal, and the fit is easy to see on paper. The former Kansas standout has spent time with the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets and 76ers, and he arrives in Indiana after three seasons in Philadelphia.
Last season, Oubre averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 46.7% from the field, 36.0% from 3-point range and 76.6% from the free-throw line. For his career, he’s at 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in the regular season, along with 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in the playoffs.
That mix of burst and volatility is part of what makes him interesting. Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice, who watched Oubre closely during his time with the 76ers, sees both the upside and the potential headaches.
“Given his athleticism, quick bursts to the basket and overall athletic prowess, Oubre seems like a strong fit in many respects,” Aaronson wrote. “But his subpar playmaking and tendency to be erratic as a decision-maker could be tricky fits within head coach Rick Carlisle's system.
“Perhaps one way to evaluate Oubre's fit: He is Indiana's new curveball. So many of their players fit a similar mold: quick and reliable decision-makers with strong spot-up shooting, capable of playing within themselves.
Oubre is ambitious. He sees himself as a high-caliber scorer, and sometimes he can be that.
Perhaps the Pacers can benefit from some irrational confidence, even if there are times they have to rein Oubre in.”
Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan laid out the team’s thinking in even more direct terms. On the Setting The Pace podcast, he said Indiana valued Oubre’s work on defense and believes the offense could unlock more clean looks for him.
“He impacts the game on the defensive side of the ball as much as he can on the offensive side, which was appealing to us,” Buchanan said. “Last year was probably the best shooting year of his career.
We think there’s more room from that regard for Kelly. I think he’ll see more open shots created in our system than he’s probably seen in his career.
Optimistic that he’ll be able to knock down shots for us, but also provide some presence as a defender, being able to guard multiple positions, which is important for us.”
Indiana opens the 2026-27 regular season on October 21 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pacers are also trying to climb back after a rough year without Haliburton. Without him, they won only 19 games last season. Pascal Siakam still delivered, averaging 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while earning his fourth All-Star nod.
Haliburton, meanwhile, remains the centerpiece everyone is waiting to see again. He posted 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game in 2024-25 and made the All-NBA Third Team. In a Pacers uniform, he has averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 10.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
His career numbers are just as strong: 17.5 points and 8.8 assists per game in the regular season, plus 17.9 points and 8.4 assists per game in the playoffs. Haliburton is under a five-year, $244 million extension signed in July 2023, and his salary this season is $48,924,624 before climbing to $52,298,736 in 2027-28 and $55,672,848 in 2028-29.
In Other News...
Pacers Camp Is Already Hinting At Carlisles Toughest Rotation Calls
Indianas 2026-27 season prep is underway with Media Day and the first training camp practices, and the early look already suggests Rick Carlisle is going to have choices to make. The expected starting group of Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac gives the Pacers a clear backbone, but the rest of camp is where the real examination begins as returning pieces and new additions compete for roles.
With the roster mostly healthy, the focus has shifted to how quickly the second and third units can settle in and how much depth Carlisle can trust once the games count. It is the kind of camp setup every coach wants, even if it leaves some rotation decisions hanging in the air for now, because the challenge is no longer simply getting bodies on the floor but figuring out which combinations can hold up over a full season. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Hype Comes Down To One Massive Tyrese Haliburton Question
The Pacers are heading into preseason with the kind of cautious buzz that usually follows a breakout year, only this time the conversation starts and ends with Tyrese Haliburton. Indiana knows how much its ceiling depends on the star guards health, and after recovering from a torn Achilles, his return has become the defining piece of the entire season preview. Bleacher Reports No. 16 spot in its preseason power rankings captures the mood pretty well, with enough optimism to see a path forward and enough skepticism to keep expectations in check.
Preseason games are about to offer the first real look at how far along the Pacers are, but the larger question hangs over everything they do. In a crowded Eastern Conference, Indiana can talk about depth, continuity and momentum all it wants, yet Haliburtons status is the thread that ties the whole operation together. If he looks like himself, the Pacers have a real chance to climb. If not, the early enthusiasm may turn out to be more fragile than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Still Have One Rotation Decision That Could Test Their Depth
With Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith back in the mix, the Pacers head into camp with most of their core pieces in place and a clearer picture of the top of the rotation than they had a year ago. Adding Kelly Oubre Jr. was meant to give the bench another proven scoring option, and it fits the broader push to make Indiana less reliant on a small group of players for big minutes every night.
The lingering question is the final spot in the nine-man rotation, where Jay Huff has emerged as a possible candidate but still has to show he can consistently swing games in the Pacers' favor. That decision matters because Indiana has seen how valuable depth can be for teams that survive the grind of a season, and it will have to decide whether it wants to prioritize upside, fit, or reliability when the rotation tightens. [Read more 🡒]