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Pacers owner rewards full-time employees with sick NBA Finals gift

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 10:37 PM ET

It’s a good time to be an Indiana Pacers fan. It’s an even better time to be an Indiana Pacers employee.

The Pacers are in the NBA Finals for the first time in a quarter century. With the first two games being held at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., the team is reportedly rewarding its full-time employees with tickets to Games 1 and 2 of the series.

According to Indiana sports anchor Anthony Calhoun, the team is also chartering a plane to transport the large group of employees.

NEW: I’m told the Pacers are chartering a plane for all full-time employees to attend the #NBAFinals Game 1 and Game 2 to support the team against the Thunder in OKC.

This is OUTSTANDING @WISHNews8
— Anthony Calhoun (@ACwishtv) June 2, 2025

On Tuesday, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle spoke to reporters about the gesture from team owner Herb Simon. Carlisle shared that there will be “more than one plane going” because each employee was allowed to bring “3 or 4 people” on the trip.

“It’s an awesome gesture by Mr. Simon and the Simon family. … It’s an amazing gesture. … It just shows how much they care about the people in the organization,” said Carlisle.

Carlisle added that Simon did something similar when the Pacers went to France in January to play in the 2025 Paris Games, which were two regular season contests against the San Antonio Spurs. Carlisle admitted that the team “lost a lot of money” on the Paris trip, but the players, staff, and their families thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The Pacers reportedly encountered some travel issues on the way to Oklahoma City. But the vibes are likely still high among both the team’s players and employees.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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