INDIANAPOLIS – It might be hard to believe, but Pacers basketball is back in the Circle City.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse filled up with blue and gold Monday night as Pacers fans made their way out for the preseason game against the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies won with a final score of 120 – 116.
Plenty of Boilermakers also came out to the game cheering on Zach Edey as he now goes pro.
“It’s crazy to believe we’re already back,” said Pacers fan Dane Smith. “And it’s Hoosier basketball again. It’s time to get ready.”
As Pacers fans poured out to Monday night’s preseason matchup, it was clear many were ready for some more action following the best end to a season in 10 years.
“Oh my gosh, it was electric here,” Smith described. “There is nothing like playoff basketball here in Indianapolis.”
“Last year had a really exciting run and we’re excited for the season to start,” said fan Nathan Hubbard.
After making it to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Pacers diehards said it feels great to be able to bring that energy back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. For longtime fans like Hubbard, there is no better family outing than Pacers basketball.
“It’s fun when I get to share it with my sons, and it’s been a really fun team to watch,” he said.
But Gainbridge Fieldhouse filled up with multiple shades of gold during this preseason matchup. If you did not know any better, you could have thought it was Purdue versus the Pacers.
Plenty of black and gold filled Gainbridge as well since former Boilermaker fan favorite Zach Edey now takes to the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies.
“It was basically like Edey’s homecoming tonight,” described Purdue fan Jessie Rojas. “Bunch of Purdue fans are out to celebrate last year’s Final Four run and him being a high pick this year.”
Purdue’s historic season last year landed them in the NCAA Championship, which is something fans like the Rojas family witnessed firsthand.
“It was incredible,” said Casey Rojas. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I got to go with my dad.”
Naturally, they are Edey fanatics. The Rojas family has signed jerseys and pictures with the man himself to prove it. They said they could not miss the chance to see Edey at it again, this time as a pro.
“It’s really exciting for us being big Purdue basketball fans and seeing him so close to home,” Casey Rojas said.
While Purdue fans hope to watch Edey grow in the NBA, Pacers fans are eager to see the team take the season one step further this go around.
“I just hope for a great season, a great team, no injuries of course,” Smith said. “I hope that we get back to the Eastern Conference Finals and make that one more run and go to the NBA Championship.”
The Pacers are back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Thursday night against the Hornets.
