Veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. said he chose the Indiana Pacers because the team’s style matches the way he still wants to play.
Oubre, who signed a two-year deal with Indiana this summer after three seasons in Philadelphia, spoke about the decision as training camp approaches. He made clear he does not see himself as finished.
“For me, I have a lot left to give. My brand [of basketball] would [fit] the Pacers style,” Oubre said. “Fast-paced, little flare, and they have a great system in place, a great coach in coach Carlisle and they checked all the boxes for me with what I was looking for.”
The 6-foot-8 wing spent last season with the 76ers, averaging 14.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 50 games. He started much of his time there but often played in a slower half-court attack.
Indiana runs differently. Rick Carlisle’s teams push the ball, look for early opportunities and ask wings to finish in transition. That is the part of the game Oubre said still excites him.
He also pointed to the structure around him. Carlisle has a long track record of organizing talented groups, and the Pacers already have a clear identity after their deep run two years ago.
Oubre arrives as a complementary piece rather than the centerpiece. Tyrese Haliburton is back from the Achilles injury that ended his 2025-26 season before it started. Pascal Siakam remains the veteran anchor. Aaron Nesmith and others already occupy rotation spots on the wing.
That did not appear to bother Oubre. He has started hundreds of NBA games across stops in Washington, Phoenix, Golden State, Charlotte and Philadelphia. He has also come off the bench. He said he is comfortable either way.
The contract is fully guaranteed and worth about $17 million over two seasons. Indiana used part of its mid-level exception to get the deal done, pushing the franchise over the luxury-tax line.
Front office officials had identified wing depth as a priority after last season’s struggles. Oubre gives them length, steals and a player who can score without needing the ball in his hands for long stretches.
He is expected to compete for minutes immediately. How many he earns will depend on training camp and the early regular-season schedule.
Oubre turns 31 during the coming season. At that age many wings start to slow down. He insists he has more to show, especially in a system that lets him run.
The Pacers open camp this week. Oubre will get his first extended look at how his new teammates operate at full speed.
For a player who has changed teams several times, the fit seemed straightforward once the conversations started.
Indiana gets another experienced two-way wing. Oubre gets a chance to play the brand of basketball he said still suits him.
