The 1996–97 Indiana Pacers season was a challenging period for the franchise, as they finished with a 39–43 record, marking their first playoff miss in eight years. Despite strong individual performances, the team struggled with consistency and cohesion. Reggie Miller led the Pacers with 21.6 points per game, while Antonio Davis contributed 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. The team also saw contributions from Dale Davis, Rik Smits, and Travis Best. Under the guidance of head coach Larry Brown, the Pacers aimed to build a strong defensive identity and develop their young talent. However, the season's outcome highlighted the challenges of competing in a highly competitive Eastern Conference. This period of rebuilding set the stage for future success, as the Pacers would go on to reach the NBA Finals in 2000. (1996–97 Indiana Pacers season - Wikipedia, 1996-97 Indiana Pacers Player Stats - Regular Season - LandOfBasketball.com, I'm Celtics legend who faced MJ as a player, then I became head coach of Reggie Miller's Pacers and came closer than anybody to ending Bulls dynasty)