When the Indiana Pacers signed Bruce Brown to a two-year, $45 million deal over the summer, they expected him to give their defense a much-needed boost. After all, Indiana finished last season with the fifth-worst defensive rating in the NBA.
In his Pacers debut, Brown delivered much more than a defensive boost. The two-way wing poured in 24 points on 8/11 shooting in a near-perfect first game with his new team. Brown led all Pacers in scoring on the way to a 143-120 blowout win over the Washington Wizards.
Brown nailed a career-high six threes on eight attempts with four of them coming from the corner. The versatile 27-year-old won an NBA championship with Denver in June, but he is loving life in Indiana so far.
“Anybody can have a big night, tonight was just mine,” Brown told Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana. “I was getting out running, hitting threes … I love this offense. I love playing with these guys.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers Updates
After playing with Nikola Jokic last season, Brown has the luxury of sharing the court with another elite passer in Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton had a typically efficient night as he ran the offense to perfection, dropping 20 points and 11 dimes in 27 minutes of action. With the heftiest payday of his career secured and his chemistry with the Pacers growing, Brown could help the Pacers break through to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Brown’s championship pedigree played a big part in Indiana’s signing of the 6-foot-4 Swiss Army knife. When asked about Denver’s ring ceremony, Brown made sure to shout out his former teammates.
“Those are my guys for life,” Brown said. “I love those guys. We had great chemistry. Happy for them … I was cheering for them to get the win against the Lakers after all the back-and-forth, but I can’t wait to see them in January and get mine.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Bruce Brown, Indiana Pacers Updates
While he may not sustain his red-hot shooting on a nightly basis, Brown’s electric debut points to a breakout season in the making.
