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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 03: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets looks for an opening against Johnny Furphy #12 of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 03, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
The Indiana Pacers have had the worst year possible following a trip to the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton has missed the entire season with a torn Achilles tendon. Bennedict Mathurin, Aaron Nesmith, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard, and T.J. McConnell have all missed significant time.
With all of the injuries, Indiana has struggled to win games. They have the worst offense in the NBA to go along with the second-worst record in the league. This year has devolved into letting their young players develop since they have no shot of making the playoffs.
Johnny Furphy was one of those young players who benefited. With Mathurin traded to the Clippers, he was set for even more playing time. After suffering an injury against the Raptors, his season is now over.
GettyIndiana Pacers forward Johnny Furphy lies injured. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Indiana Pacers Forward Johnny Furphy Tears his ACL
After he completed a dunk in a game against Toronto, Murphy immediately grabbed his knee. It looked like it was a bad injury, but now that has been confirmed. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Furphy suffered a torn ACL on the play, ending his season.
Furphy started 21 games in his second year in the league, giving him a real shot to develop. Last season, he was forced to play in more games than he was ready for because of the rash of injuries the team suffered early on. Now, his year is finished.
Losing Furphy at this point in the season means he will likely not be ready for the start of next season, either. That is the biggest issue with this injury for the Pacers. Furphy was set to be a firm part of the rotation next season off the bench. Now, he will likely miss a big chunk of next year.
GettyIndiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle looks on. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Pacers Will Continue to Tank Without Johnny Furphy
Without Furphy available, the Pacers will likely start Jarace Walker moving forward. They will likely continue to tank, especially with the protections the organization has put on their 2026 first-round pick in the Ivica Zubac trade. They are incentivized to heavily tank.
As long as the Pacers finish in the bottom four of the NBA standings, they have a 52 percent chance of keeping their pick in the top four. While they have guys who play hard, they just aren’t good enough to win games on a consistent basis, even before they started trying to tank.
Zubac will make the frontcourt better, but it’s unclear when he will make his debut for the team. He had a child right before he was traded, so Indiana is letting him tend to those duties before playing a game for them. His debut will likely occur after the All-Star break.
Losing Furphy hurts for next season. The last thing the Pacers need is to have more guys go down with season-ending injuries during a season that is all but lost.