How Indiana Basketball Is Different From Everywhere Else, Haliburton’s Return With Pacers Voice Chris Denari

Pacers TV play-by-play announcer Chris Denari joins Hoopsology for an honest look at Tyrese Haliburton’s return, what the Pacers learned from the worst season in franchise history, and why Indiana believes it can contend for a championship again. 🏀 Recorded in Oklahoma City on the day of a Pacers vs. Thunder preseason game, this conversation covers the comeback, the culture of Indiana basketball, and the career path of one of the NBA’s most respected voices.

In this episode: Haliburton’s return after nearly 500 days since his Achilles injury in the 2025 NBA Finals, and what he looks like now How last season’s 19-win collapse still fuels the team, and why the Pacers believe they’ve “done it before” The Pacers’ focus on defense, and what Ivica Zubac adds alongside Haliburton and Pascal Siakam The Knicks storyline and why the Pacers have extra motivation Why the Eastern Conference may be the stronger conference this season What makes Indiana basketball unique, from small-town high school gyms to Bob Knight’s motion offense The Pacers’ history in Indianapolis, including the telethon that kept the franchise in town The Indiana Fever’s rise with Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell, and Stephanie White, and how Fever and Pacers fans overlap Chris’s origin story: son of a high school coach, Wabash College, and a first radio job at $200 a week A game day on the road, from shootaround to landing home around 2 a.m. How he prepares, and why he never scripts big moments Calling the Indy 500 from turn four, and how it made him a better announcer The strange night a leaking roof at the arena cancelled a game and turned him into a “meteorologist” Why basketball is unique to call compared to football and baseball About the guest: Chris Denari is entering his 21st year as the play-by-play voice of the Indiana Pacers.

He previously called Butler basketball and Indiana Fever games, and was the turn four announcer at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for 24 years. Where to watch the Pacers: Games stream on The Zone and air over the air on the Fox and CBS affiliates in Indianapolis.

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