Why Kelly Oubre Jr. Chose the Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers didn't need a blockbuster this offseason. With most of the core that carried them to Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals still in place, the front office focused on a narrower goal: adding depth on the wing and strengthening a bench that will be asked to help turn the page on a lost 2025–26 season.

That search led to Kelly Oubre Jr., a 6-foot-8 veteran who spent the last three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and brings size, experience and two-way versatility to the rotation. Speaking publicly about the move for the first time on the HoopsHype podcast with Cyro Asseo, Oubre made it clear Indiana was exactly where he wanted to be.

A System Built for His Game

Oubrebelieves he still has plenty left in the tank, and he said the Pacers' identity lines up with the way he wants to play. He pointed to Indiana's up-tempo, free-flowing style, its well-established system and head coach Rick Carlisle as the pieces that checked every box on his list.

He was careful not to criticize his previous stop. Oubre said he enjoyed his years in Philadelphia but noted that the 76ers operated at a slower tempo. As a wing who thrives running the floor and attacking in transition, he saw Indiana as a far more natural fit.

The Haliburton Factor

If one thing tipped the scales, it was Tyrese Haliburton. The two already knew each other well before becoming teammates, having trained together under renowned skills coach Drew Hanlen and sharing the same representation. That existing friendship, combined with the chance to play in a fast-paced attack, made the decision simple, according to Oubre.

Oubre described Haliburton as the unquestioned leader of the group and praised his maturity, saying it's rare to find a franchise centerpiece who is so level-headed. He added that the point guard now carries the experience and the scars of a player who has been through the fire.

At the same time, Oubre is realistic about what Haliburton's return will look like after he missed the entire 2025–26 campaign recovering from a torn Achilles. He said he doesn't expect the star to immediately be his old self, but he's eager to support him through that process and share what he's learned over his career.

Lessons Learned in Philadelphia

Oubre's time with the 76ers didn't deliver the postseason run he had hoped for, but he credits it with shaping him in a deeper way. He said those seasons built resilience and self-belief, and taught him that he could fill whatever role a team needed.

His path to Philadelphia came at a low point.Oubre signed a veteran-minimum contract in 2023 while dealing with significant personal struggles, and he said he was close to walking away before Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse kept calling and convinced him to come aboard. That experience, he explained, showed him he could push through adversity even without knowing what the next day would bring something he says he didn't understand about himself when he was younger.

A Starter's Mindset in a Supporting Role

Oubre enters his 12th NBAseason with 352 career starts, and he still views himself as a starting-caliber player. But he also recognizes that Indiana's rotation is largely set and that he is arriving as a complementary piece rather than a featured one.

He said he's willing to start wherever he's slotted and work his way up, noting that nothing in his career has ever been handed to him.

"At the end of the day, I'm on a team," he said, summing up his approach.

Oubre helped Philadelphia reach the playoffs in two of his three seasons there, and he wants to bring that experience to a Pacers group that was playing for a title not long ago. Helping Indiana get back to the postseason, he said, is the priority.

A Reggie Miller Connection

Not every reason for the move was about basketball fit. Oubre shared a childhood memory tied to the franchise: as an eight-year-old who had just started playing the game, he watched Reggie Miller's final NBA game on television and cried when the Pacers legend retired.

Oubre said he was never really a Pacers fan growing up, but he admired Miller's shooting, quickness, effort and passion. Miller remains the only player whose retirement ever brought him to tears, and Oubre said the memory came rushing back recently when it hit him that he now plays for the same organization.

Ready for the Next Chapter

Eleven years into his career, Oubre arrives in Indiana with a clear sense of who he is and what the team needs. His bond with Haliburton, his comfort in Carlisle's run-and-gun system, and a shared goal of returning to the playoffs all point toward a smooth fit.

He may not be one of the headline names on the roster, but Oubre appears fully prepared to do whatever it takes to help the Pacers get back to where they were just over a year ago.