Indiana

Indiana Pacers Get Long-Term Stability As Andrew Nembhard Extends Deal

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2024

Indiana Pacers Get Long-Term Stability As Andrew Nembhard Extends Deal

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 03: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers looks on in the game … [+] against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 03, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers pulled off one of their most significant moves of the offseason last week as they extended guard Andrew Nembhard’s contract.

The new, longer deal for the 24-year old was announced last Friday, and reports have detailed that it’s a three-year, $58.6 million extension. For a player that hasn’t made more than $2.4 million in a given season, it’s a major contract.

It’s also a huge win for the Indiana Pacers. Nembhard is a terrific player and still young at 24. He only has been in the league for two years, so he has room to grow despite being experienced already — he helped the blue and gold reach the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Starting guards are not cheap in the NBA, and neither are young players. Malik Monk and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both signed multi-year deals with an average annual value of $19.5 million or more this offseason, and they play Nembhard’s position. Patrick Williams, a young yet unproven player, inked a deal worth $18 million per year.

Nembhard, after his extension, is now under contract for four years and $60.7 million in total. That’s just over $15 million per season for a proven, young two-way guard.

“During the course of Andrew’s career, he has proven that there is no moment too big for him and he continually rises to every challenge presented to him and our team,” Pacers President of Basketball Operations said in a statement.

Nembhard’s deal, at least by the high-level numbers, is slightly misleading. In order to get the extension in motion, Indiana declined a team option that previously existed in Nembhard’s contract. Said option covered the 2025-26 season, and it was for just $2.2 million. By declining that option and then extending Nembhard’s contract, he gets a roughly $16 million pay bump next season.

That’s why the length of the deal made sense. If Nembhard was only willing to add two years to his contract, that may not have been worth it for Indiana. They already had that team option in their favor. A four-year extension would have required declining that team option, and that may have been too long of a commitment for Nembhard. Three years was the perfect middle ground.

That resolution means four more seasons under contract in total, which will keep Nembhard in Indy through 2028 barring a trade. He’s been a great piece for the franchise since being drafted 31st overall in 2022. By the final season of the contract, the Gonzaga product will make just a few million more then the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception.

That’s an inexpensive deal for a starter, and there were reasons to keep Nembhard beyond a great contract. He’s an impactful player — the Pacers were more than four points per 100 possessions better on defense with Nembhard on the floor. On offense, they stumbled from best-ever levels to merely elite when Nembhard was playing.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 18: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers looks on in the game … [+] against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 18, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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In the postseason, the former second-round pick averaged 14.9 points and 5.5 assists per game. When star guard Tyrese Haliburton was injured for the final two playoff outings, he torched the Boston Celtics.

If the Canadian guard built off the postseason success and had a great third season, he may have gotten a huge contract as a restricted free agent next summer. San Antonio, Brooklyn, and Washington all need a point guard and project to have cap space in 2025.

Instead, Nembhard is staying with Indiana. “His hard work and focus on developing all aspects of his game have made him an instrumental part of our success — and he has only started to scratch the surface of his potential — so we are excited to have him with us for years to come,” Pritchard said.

Nembhard averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 assists per game last season. He’s going to improve while playing for Team Canada in the Olympics this offseason. “How to draw fouls. And rebounding,” Nembhard said of what he’s working on this summer.

After the Olympic games, he’ll return to the Pacers. Once he’s back, he can grow over the life of his new contract and become the player this deal says he can be. He might already be that player, and that’s why the Pacers have to be beaming that Nembhard signed this extension.

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Indiana

Game times announced for Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis

Published

11 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Game times announced for Saturday’s Final Four in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four is set.

Four teams have advanced to the Final Four and will compete for the national championship this upcoming weekend in Indianapolis.

The two national semifinal matchups will take place on Saturday. Tip times for the two games have been announced:

6:09 p.m. EDT – No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 2 seed UConn
8:49 p.m. EDT – No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona

The winners of Saturday’s games will then play in the National Championship Game on Monday, April 6.

Each game will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Indiana

Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

Published

23 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday morning as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ events to voice their concerns about the current administration.

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Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest

“I’m out here today because what’s happening in our government is completely trash,” Donna Sipes told WRTV. “It’s wrong. We need to do something about it.”

“I’m tired of every single day when the TV comes on to see what stupid thing he’s done next,” Lindi Marti said.

WRTV

Attendees noted the growing popularity of the demonstrations.

“This is my fourth one to come to. I didn’t come to all of them when it was really cold, but I’m glad to see that they are getting a lot more people out here every time,” Marti added. “It seems like there’s more and more coming.”

Demonstrators highlighted specific foreign policy concerns, including the administration’s handling of the war in Iran.

“We’re bombing the heck out of them. We’re killing civilians,” Marti’s husband said. “We’re getting ready to send our Marines.”

Others focused on the administration’s handling of immigration.

“That’s what I’m concerned about,” Reverend Kenny Little told WRTV. “Little kids, they’re taking them away from their family. And I’m just one of those people, I think everyone got rights.”

Indiana medical students also attended the rally to speak out against changes to the healthcare system.

“We’re really worried about the attacks on the health care system in general, but with Medicaid… current estimates range from anywhere from 325,000 to 450,000 Hoosiers will lose coverage by 2032,” Wade Catt said with concern.

Poster image - 2026-03-28T202405.362.jpg

With midterm elections approaching later this year, attendees emphasized the importance of now taking action at the ballot box.

“If we don’t vote, then things are gonna not, they’re gonna stay the same,” a protester said.

Meanwhile, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith says he’s happy to see Hoosiers exercise their First Amendment right to protest.

However, he takes issue with the idea that President Trump is acting like a king. Beckwith says the fact that people have the freedom to protest is proof that the president is not acting like a tyrant.

He acknowledges that bridging the gap between the sides is probably an uphill battle, but believes communication is key.

“I think when you sit down with people face to face, you’re confronted with humanity. There’s another human sitting across that table from you and talking to you. And so, all I have to say, I think that’s probably the thing I would encourage all Hoosiers to do is say, ‘Hey, if you don’t agree with somebody or if you don’t like somebody, why don’t you try grabbing coffee with them? And give it 30 minutes, and just see what happens.’ I bet most of the time people will walk away with a much softer heart and spirit towards that person before they came in,” Beckwith said.

Beckwith is currently on a 92-county tour of the state. He says all sides are welcome to attend his events.

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Indiana

Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police say one “young man” is dead after a shooting at the 1200 block of Rue Rabelais at about 7:19 p.m. according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

That is near the intersection of 56th Street and Binford Boulevard.

Police say the victim was taken to Riley Hospital where he later died. Investigators say they are still working to identify the victim.

There was no known information about a suspect. Police did say that they believe this is a targeted incident.

There was no other information immediately available.

This story has been updated with information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

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