Syracuse, N.Y. — Buddy Boeheim spoke from Indiana Sunday afternoon, practice with the Pacers organization officially done for the day.
Boeheim agreed to an NBA Summer League deal with the Pacers, who very nearly won an NBA championship last month. The organization reached out to his agent, he said, as Indiana churned through the NBA playoffs.
The Pacers expressed interest, Boeheim said, in giving him a look during Summer League.
“They’re looking to add a guy with size that can shoot the ball and there’s a potential for a 2-way,” Boeheim said. “So it was just kind of hard to say no to that. Obviously, the ultimate goal is to get back to the NBA so that’s a great opportunity for me. I just jumped at that.”
The Pacers will break training camp on Tuesday, Boeheim said, and head to Las Vegas. The team plays its first game Thursday at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. Its last Summer League game takes place on Thursday, July 17 at 5:30 vs. the New York Knicks.
Playoffs begin July 18 and stretch to July 20.
These later dates correspond to The Basketball Tournament, that winner-take-all $1 million annual summer sweepstakes.
Buddy Boeheim agreed to play for Boeheim’s Army this summer for the first time in his career. Boeheim’s Army will play its first game on July 19 at 6 p.m. against the Herkimer Originals at Onondaga Community College.
There is a chance, depending upon how the Pacers perform in Las Vegas, that Boeheim will miss a game.
“It’s gonna be close either way, obviously,” Boeheim said. “If I can make that first game, I definitely want to make it. But I don’t want to be too burned out from Summer League. The focus is to have a good, healthy Summer League and play well. Belbey knows the plan. If I can get home in time for that first game, I will. But if not, I’ll be ready for that second game. And I’ll be in game shape.”
Shaun Belbey, the Boeheim’s Army general manager, said if Buddy Boeheim is unable to play against the Herkimer Originals, the team will announce it before the game.
Boeheim and Elijah Hughes are the newest and potentially most impactful of the former Syracuse players on the 2025 Boeheim’s Army roster.
Boeheim, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard, ranks second in Syracuse career 3-point field goals made (309) and 3-pointers attempted (854). He ranks 13th in career points at 1,765 over a career that spanned 2018-2022.
He was a career 36.2% shooter from the 3-point line at SU.
Boeheim is coming off thumb surgery on his shooting hand in late March. He sustained the injury playing for Oklahoma City’s G League team last season. He expects to have no lingering issues with his thumb.
Pacers’ Summer League schedule (times Eastern first, then Pacific):
Thursday, July 10 5:00/2:00 p.m. Cleveland vs. Indiana Cox Pavilion NBATV
Saturday, July 12 5:30/2:30 p.m. Indiana vs. Oklahoma City Cox Pavilion NBATV
Monday, July 14 6:00/3:00 p.m. Chicago vs. Indiana Cox Pavilion ESPNU
Thursday, July 17 4:30/1:30 p.m. Indiana vs. New York Thomas & Mack ESPN2
July 18-20 TBD Semifinals/Consolation Round
Sunday, July 20 10:00/7:00 p.m. Championship Thomas & Mack ESPN
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