As the Washington Wizards won the 2026 NBA draft lottery over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, Pacers fans took out their wrath on the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Many on social media alleged that the draft was rigged, as the Pacers were left without a draft pick in the lottery Sunday.
The Indiana Pacers landed the No. 5 overall pick in the draft lottery but that was transferred to the Los Angeles Clippers because of a previous trade agreement. Coming on the back of a poor 19-63 season and first-round playoff elimination, the Pacers fans were hoping a good draft luck would have given them a chance of turning around their record next season.
The NBA fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 on February 12 this year for sitting healthy players in the February 3 game vs the Utah Jazz. The fine, coupled with the draft lottery outcome, added to the frustrations of the Pacers fans.
Frustrated Pacers Fans React
“Rigged. Do the lottery balls live. But I’m officially done with the NBA. Adam Silver clearly hates the Pacers. This league is terrible,” one user wrote.
“Adam Silver and the NBA want to change the draft lottery process mainly because of Indiana’s injury-riddled season. And somehow the ping pong balls kept the Pacers out of a top 4 pick. Par for the course with this franchise’s history of bad luck,” WNAE 15 sportscaster Josh Ayen wrote.
“You knew the fix was in when Adam Silver fined the Pacers. You can’t convince me otherwise, sorry,” added one.
“Pacers fans when they see Adam Silver in public,” wrote one, sharing a meme.
“Hey Pacers fans, just going to leave you with this. Adam Silver is a Knicks fan,” joked one.
“After today’s Pacers robbery. I FULLY believe that if somehow the Pacers could pull this trade off for Giannis to come to Indy, Adam Silver would veto it,” wrote one.
“The NBA hates the Indiana Pacers. There’s no other explanation after all the shit they’ve put us through for the last 50 years. It’s not “anti small market” they just hate us. F*** you, Adam Silver,” said one.
This story is being updated.
