Pacers Gaming
{{Short description|American esports team}}
{{Infobox sports team
| name = Pacers Gaming
| short_name =
| logo = Pacers Gaming logo.jpg
| logo_size = 225px
| alt =
| caption =
| parent_group = Pacers Sports & Entertainment
| founded = 2017
| dissolved =
| championships =
| owners =
| partners = Indiana National Guard
| affiliation = Indiana Pacers
| ceo =
| city =
| colors = Navy blue, gold, cool gray
{{color box|#002D62}} {{color box|#FDBB30}} {{color box|#BEC0C2}}
| sport_label =
| sport = {{ubl|NBA 2K}}
| website = {{website|https://pacersgaming.nba.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Pacers Gaming is an esports team that competed in the NBA 2K League (NBA 2KL or 2KL) from 2018 to 2024. They are a venture of Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E), which owns the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)'s Indiana Fever, and the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League.
History
In February 2017, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the developer of the NBA 2K video game series, Take-Two Interactive, announced plans to launch an esports league around NBA 2K. In May, the Indiana Pacers were announced as among the 17 of NBA's 30 teams set to participate in the inaugural NBA 2K League season, scheduled for 2018.{{cite press release|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-2k-esports-league-17-nba-teams-participate-inaugural-season#/|title=17 NBA teams to take part in inaugural NBA 2K esports league in 2018|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=May 4, 2017|accessdate=April 22, 2025}} Pacers Gaming was established in December as part of the Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) umbrella.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/pacers-sports-entertainment-announces-nba-2k-league-team-name-logo|title=Pacers Sports & Entertainment Announces NBA 2K League Team Name & Logo|website=NBA.com|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=December 12, 2017|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} The team's founding was led by Kelly Krauskopf, at the time the team president of the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), as well as the Senior Vice President of the Indiana Pacers.{{cite web|last=Ayello|first=Jim|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2017/12/12/pacers-sports-entertainment-enters-world-esports-member-nba-2-k-league/944374001/|title=Pacers Sports & Entertainment enters world of eSports as member of NBA 2K League|work=Indy Star|date=December 12, 2017|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} The team competes in the NBA 2K League, a joint venture between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the NBA 2K' video game franchise.{{cite web|url=https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/arts-and-culture/sports/pacers-gaming/|title=Pacers Gaming Has Got Next|work=Indianapolis Monthly|date=February 18, 2018|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} The Pacers were one of the first teams to join the 2K League. Cody Parrent serves as the team's Senior Director of eSports Operations, equivalent to the head coach and general manager of the team.{{cite web|last=Sokeland|first=Kyle|url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/2020/05/15/evansville-native-cody-parrent-carved-out-esports-career-indiana-pacers/3114864001/|title=Reitz grad Cody Parrent turned love of video games into career with Pacers Gaming|work=Evansville Courier & Press|date=May 15, 2020|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} The team is sponsored by the Indiana National Guard.{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Lauren|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/nba-2k--curious-mix|title=Pacers, NBA Dive Into Esports|work=Curious Mix|publisher=WFYI|date=July 26, 2018|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}
In the first 2K League Draft, Pacers Gaming selected Bryan "WoLF 74" Colon, a 22-year old from New York, with the 13th overall pick.{{cite web|last=Nye|first=Rich|url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/pacers-gaming-esports-team-begins-play-in-nba-2k-league-next-month/531-2e852a34-1e48-4030-8152-7732d58f8ec3|title=Pacers Gaming eSports team begins play in NBA 2K League next month|publisher=WTHR|date=April 25, 2018|orig-date=April 23, 2018|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} During the 2018 season, WoLF 74 was selected All-Tournament Second Team in the league's Tip-Off Tournament.{{cite web|last=Mazique|first=Brian|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2018/05/06/nba-2k-league-tip-off-tournament-wrap-up-mvp-all-tournament-team-positives-and-negatives/|title='NBA 2K' League Tip-Off Tournament Wrap-Up: MVP, All-Tournament Team, Positives And Negatives|work=Forbes|date=May 6, 2018|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}
The team won five games in its first season; in the following season, they doubled their win total and finished with a {{tooltip|10–6|10 wins, 6 losses}} record. They clinched a playoff berth and the sixth seed in the playoffs.{{cite web|last=Glaspie|first=Akeem|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2019/07/24/nba-2-k-league-playoffs-pacers-gaming-preparing-first-playoff-appearance-ramo-swizurk/1802458001/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240625053048/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2019/07/24/nba-2-k-league-playoffs-pacers-gaming-preparing-first-playoff-appearance-ramo-swizurk/1802458001/|title=Traditional athletes, competitive experience transforms Pacers Gaming into playoff team|work=Indy Star|date=July 24, 2019|archive-date=June 25, 2024|accessdate=June 27, 2024}}{{cite web|last=Garcia|first=Jeff|url=https://foxsanantonio.com/sports/2019-nba-2k-league-playoffs-no-team-wants-to-face-pacers-gaming-says-radoncic|title=2019 NBA 2K League Playoffs: No team wants to face Pacers Gaming says Radoncic|publisher=KABB|date=July 24, 2019|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} They lost in the first round of the playoffs to 76ers Gaming Club, {{tooltip|0–2|0 games to 2}} in a best-of-three series.{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/playoffs-quarterfinals-vs-76ers-gc/|title=Playoffs: Quarterfinals vs 76ers GC|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=July 26, 2019|accessdate=April 26, 2025}}
In 2020, the 2KL expanded and re-aligned its teams into newly formed Eastern and Western Conferences. That season, Pacers Gaming failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing the season in 9th place in the 11-team Western Conference with a {{tooltip|4–12|4 wins, 12 losses}} record.{{cite web|url=https://2kleague.nba.com/standings/|title=Standings Archive|publisher=NBA 2K League|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} The team had a resurgent 2021 season, finishing in second place in their conference, with a {{tooltip|20–8|20 wins, 8 losses}} record. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to Jazz Gaming.
Beginning in 2022, the NBA 2KL added a 3v3 format, which would be played over the course of three tournaments as opposed to a traditional regular season.{{cite web|last=Bumbaca|first=Chris|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/gaming/2021/12/16/nba-2-k-league-2022-season-new-rules-tournament-format/8912395002/|title=Changes coming to NBA 2K League: Tournament schedule, amateur 3-on-3 games, higher prize pool|work=USA Today|date=December 16, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} That season, the league returned to in-person competition, after two years of remote play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|last=Lorenzi|first=Joel|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2022/04/21/nba-2-k-league-returns-in-person-play-hopes-grow-league/7393334001/|title=NBA 2K League hoping to grow league in return to in-person play|work=Indy Star|date=April 21, 2022|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} In the 2KL's 3v3 format in 2022, Pacers Gaming had a league-best 17–6 record, earning the number-one seed and a first-round bye for postseason play. They lost in their first championship tournament matchup to Rim Runners, an amateur team, {{tooltip|0–3|0 games to 3}}.
Pacers Gaming finished the 3v3 portion of their 2024 season with an {{tooltip|8–7|8 wins, 7 losses}} and {{tooltip|31–29|31 wins, 29 losses}} record in series played and overall games played, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-close-out-their-3v3-season-losing-0-3-to-dux-infinitos/|title=Pacers Gaming Close Out Their 3v3 Season, Losing 0-3 to Dux Infinitos|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=April 19, 2024|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} In 5v5 play, they finished the year going {{tooltip|8–9|8 wins, 9 losses}} and lost to Bucks Gaming in the first round of the playoffs, {{tooltip|0–2|0 games to 2}}. In July, after the 2KL season concluded, 2KL CEO Andrew Perlmutter held a town hall with the league's staff and management, firing everyone and placing Pacers Gaming, along with the rest of the entire league, on an 18-month hiatus intended to be spent revamping the league.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/07/03/nba-2k-league-layoffs-reimagined-business/|title=NBA 2K League unveils layoffs, reimagined business|work=Sports Business Journal|date=July 3, 2024|accessdate=April 26, 2025}}
Logos and branding
A sister team of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, the Pacers Gaming logo features a stylized version of Boomer, the Pacers' mascot.{{cite web|last=Schoettle|first=Anthony|url=https://www.ibj.com/the-score-anthony-schoettle/66654-pacers-unveil-esports-teams-name-boomer-inspired-logo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006125840/https://www.ibj.com/the-score-anthony-schoettle/66654-pacers-unveil-esports-teams-name-boomer-inspired-logo|title=Pacers unveil esports team's name, Boomer-inspired logo|work=Indianapolis Business Journal|date=December 12, 2017|archive-date=October 6, 2022|accessdate=June 27, 2024}} In the press release announcing Pacers Gaming, the logo was called a "modernized Pacers Panther". Like the NBA team, Pacers Gaming's logo is blue and yellow.
Season-by-season results
=5v5 format=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" summary="Season (sortable), Conference, Finish (sortable), Division, Finish (sortable), Wins (sortable), Losses (sortable), Win% (sortable), GB (sortable), Playoffs, Awards and Head coach" |
| scope="col"| Season
!scope="col"| Finish{{#tag:ref|The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.|group=lower-alpha|name=note_b}} !scope="col"| W{{#tag:ref|The Wins and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play, or play in the "Tip-Off", "The Turn", or "The Ticket" tournaments. Regular and postseason records are combined only below the table.|group=lower-alpha|name=note_c}} !scope="col"| Win% !scope="col"| Playoffs !scope="col"| Head Coach |
|---|
| 2018
|align="center" | |align="center"| 5 |align="center"| 9 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|5|9}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-makes-historic-trade-with-pistons-gt/|title=Pacers Gaming Makes Historic Trade with Pistons GT|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=September 27, 2018|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| Did not qualify | Cody Parrent |
| 2019
|align="center" | 6th |align="center"| 10 |align="center"| 6 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|10|6}}{{cite web|last=White|first=Eddie|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/week-12-pacers-gaming-vs-netsgc/|title=Week 12: Pacers Gaming vs NetsGC|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=July 19, 2019|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| Lost first round (76ers Gaming Club) | Cody Parrent |
| 2020
|align="center" | |align="center"| 4 |align="center"| 12 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|4|12}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-gains-no-2-position-in-2021-nba-2k-league-draft/|title=Pacers Gaming Gains No. 2 Position in 2021 NBA 2K League Draft|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=October 29, 2020|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| Did not qualify | Cody Parrent |
| 2021
|align="center" | 2nd |align="center"| 20 |align="center"| 8 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|20|8}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-2021-playoff-preview/|title=Pacers Gaming 2021 Playoff Preview|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=August 23, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| Lost second round (Jazz Gaming){{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-record-breaking-season-ends/|title=Pacers Gaming Record-Breaking Season Ends|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=August 27, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} | |
| 2022
|align="center" | |align="center"| 6 |align="center"| 11 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|6|11}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/the-5v5-ticket-tournament-vs-pistons-gt/|title=The 5v5 Ticket Tournament vs Pistons GT|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=August 12, 2022|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| | |
| 2023
|align="center" | |align="center"| 11 |align="center"| 13 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|11|13}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-win-then-lose-ending-2023-season/|title=Pacers Gaming Win, Then Lose, Ending 2023 Season|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=July 29, 2023|accessdate=June 28, 2024}} |align="center"| | |
| 2024
|align="center" | |align="center"| 8 |align="center"| 9 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|8|9}}{{cite web|url=https://pacersgaming.nba.com/news/pacers-gaming-lose-in-5v5-playoffs-season-over/|title=Pacers Gaming Lose in 5v5 Playoffs; Season Over|publisher=Pacers Gaming|date=June 26, 2024|accessdate=April 26, 2025}} |align="center"| Lost first round (Bucks Gaming) | |
=3v3 format=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" summary="Season (sortable), Conference, Finish (sortable), Division, Finish (sortable), Wins (sortable), Losses (sortable), Win% (sortable), GB (sortable), Playoffs, Awards and Head coach" |
| scope="col"| Season
!scope="col"| Finish{{#tag:ref|The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.|group=lower-alpha|name=note_b}} !scope="col"| W !scope="col"| L !scope="col"| Win% !scope="col"| Playoffs !scope="col"| Head Coach |
|---|
| 2022
|align="center" | 1st |align="center"| 17 |align="center"| 6 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|17|6}} |align="center"| Lost 3v3 Championship Tournament (Rim Runners) | |
| 2023
|align="center" | |align="center"| 14 |align="center"| 12 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|14|12}} |align="center"| N/A | |
| 2024
|align="center" | |align="center"| 31 |align="center"| 29 |align="center"| {{winning percentage|31|29}} |align="center"| | |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{NBA 2K League}}
{{Indiana Pacers}}
{{Indiana Sports}}
{{Portal bar|Basketball|Indiana|Video games}}
Category:2017 establishments in Indiana
Category:Esports teams based in the United States