Hall of Fame

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Iconic Indiana Pacers Fan Recognized for Nearly Four Decades of Support 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (February 27, 2026)&nbsp;– The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the addition of longtime Indiana Pacers SuperFan&nbsp;Matt Asen, known to fans as&nbsp;The Pacer Guy,&nbsp;to its James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery beginning this August.&nbsp;

A courtside fixture for nearly four decades, “The Pacer Guy” is one of the franchise’s most recognizable and beloved supporters, known for his unwavering enthusiasm, signature inflatable flamingo, and spirited signs. Asen has not missed a home playoff game in more than 20 years, traveling from his home in Florida to sit under the basket for the team’s biggest moments. His devotion began in 1987 following a chance meeting with Pacers owner and Hall of Famer Herb Simon and has included traveling to Paris in January 2025 to support the team abroad.

“We are proud to honor The Pacer Guy in our SuperFan Gallery,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “For more than three decades, his passionate support has embodied the spirit and loyalty of basketball fans everywhere. Alongside James F. Goldstein, we look forward to celebrating his story and sharing his memorabilia with our guests.”

Asen’s recognition in the SuperFan Gallery will be highlighted during Enshrinement Weekend on August 14-16 with a SuperFan Ceremony held in his honor. In addition, a video tribute to Asen will be featured within the SuperFan Gallery.

"Matt has been part of our Pacers family for decades," said Mel Raines, Pacers Sports & Entertainment President and CEO. "Whether it's his handmade signs, hard hats, or infamous pink flamingo on the baseline, he continues to bring his passion and energy to our home games. He represents what our fans are all about, and we're proud to see him honored by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame."

The Pacer Guy will join a group of basketball fans who have made a profound impact on the game through their loyalty, passion, and dedication. The Hall of Fame has also honored&nbsp;James F.&nbsp;Goldstein, the gallery’s namesake, along with SuperFans&nbsp;Penny Marshall,&nbsp;Nav Bhatia,&nbsp;Jack Nicholson,&nbsp;Billy Crystal,&nbsp;Alan Horwitz,&nbsp;Spike Lee,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Bruce and Judy Reznick, “Mr. and Mrs. Whammy.”

Established in 2018, the SuperFan Gallery was created to recognize and celebrate some of the most iconic and dedicated fans in basketball history. SuperFans are selected by the Hall of Fame's SuperFan Committee based on several criteria, including:

The James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery, located on the second floor of the Hall of Fame Museum, showcases the unique stories, memorabilia, and apparel of these passionate fans. Visitors can learn about the inspiring journeys of these individuals and their connection to the sport.

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Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to Honor Matt Asen “The Pacer Guy” in Superfan Exhibit

Herb Simon, chairman and owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, was officially enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday night in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Simon, the longest-tenured owner in NBA history, was enshrined under the “Contributors” category, which recognizes owners and executives who have been instrumental in helping grow basketball in the United States and across the globe. He joins Pacers legends Reggie Miller, George McGinnis, Bobby “Slick” Leonard, Roger Brown, and Mel Daniels and Fever legend Tamika Catchings in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

"This is not a recognition that I ever expected, but I'm so humbled and honored to receive it," Simon said. "It has, however, given me a chance to reflect on the last 41 years, and one of the things I've realized is that I'm still as excited for the start of a new season as ever."

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Herb Simon Full Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech | Indiana Pacers

Simon and his brother, Melvin, purchased the Pacers in 1983, injecting the franchise with new energy and keeping the team firmly in Indiana. Working alongside business and civic leaders, the Simons were central to bringing the 1985 NBA All-Star Game to Indianapolis, an event that set an All-Star attendance record that stood until 2010.

As an owner and team governor, Simon has been at the forefront of the NBA’s evolution into a global brand, its efforts to innovate and reach new fans, and the expansion of the game of basketball outside of the United States. PS&E joined the WNBA with the expansion Fever in 2000 and became one of the League’s most successful franchises, and Simon’s commitment to women’s basketball, generally, have helped position the WNBA as the premier women’s professional basketball league in the world.”

For fans in Indiana, Simon’s impact stretches well beyond the basketball court. For decades, he and the Simon family have been important catalysts for the growth of Indianapolis into an international hub for business, sports and entertainment, and arts and culture. Simon’s commitment to the downtown has helped the Circle City flourish and shaped the physical and cultural landscape of the city, and the philanthropic investments he and the Simon family have made have helped strengthen so many Indiana communities, Hoosier families, and the organizations who serve them.

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Herb Simon Enshrined in Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

The full Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement speech from Pacers Sports & Entertainment owner and governor Herb Simon.

Gainbridge Fieldhouse will host a Celebration of Life for Pacers legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee George McGinnis, who passed away in December, on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 2:00 PM ET.

The Celebration of Life will be open to the general public. Doors will open at 1:00 PM.

Those unable to attend in person will be able to watch a live stream of the service on this page.

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Gainbridge Fieldhouse to Host Celebration of Life for George McGinnis on Sunday, Jan. 7

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Pacers Sports & Entertainment will host Boom Baby! The Life and Times of Bobby "Slick" Leonard, a public celebration of life for Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster Bobby "Slick" Leonard on May 12 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Tickets go on sale for $5.29 each at Pacers.com/Slick on Friday, May 7, at 10 a.m., with all proceeds going to the Dropping Dimes Foundation benefitting former ABA players and personnel. Attendance will be limited to 1,500 guests due to COVID protocols, but the celebration will also be livestreamed at Pacers.com/Slick for those unable to attend. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

"While we continue to mourn his passing and miss his always colorful presence, we look forward to offering a public farewell to one of the most impactful figures in our state's basketball history," said PS&E President Rick Fuson. "We also want to offer up one last 'Boom Baby' in Slick's honor."

Leonard, the Terre Haute native who led Indiana University to the 1953 national championship, coached the Pacers to three American Basketball Association titles and later served as the team's radio analyst, passed on April 13 at the age of 88.

Video tributes from former Pacers players and basketball dignitaries and clips from the 2014 WFYI Ted Green Films documentary "Heart of a Hoosier" will be featured. Mark Boyle, the Pacers' radio voice and Leonard's long-time broadcast partner, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Per the family's wishes, Leonard's calling and services were private and he was interred at Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend on April 22.

"Boom Baby" was Leonard's trademark radio call punctuating a made three-point field goal by a Pacers player. In addition to coaching the Pacers to the three ABA championships, Leonard and his wife, Nancy, also played major roles in keeping the Pacers in Indianapolis after the team encountered financial difficulties following the merger into the National Basketball Association.

For more information, please visit Pacers.com/Slick.

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Pacers Sports & Entertainment Honors Bobby "Slick" Leonard with May 12 Celebration of Life

The Indiana Pacers today announced they will wear a black stripe on their uniforms for the remainder of the season, a way to pay tribute to Bobby "Slick" Leonard, who passed away on April 13.

"Slick was one of the most instrumental people in making this franchise what it is today, a legend who made all our lives better through his passion and presence," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. "We will miss him dearly, and this uniform stripe is just a reminder of what he has represented to the Indiana Pacers organization for more than fifty years."

The stripe will be worn on both home and away uniforms.

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Pacers to Wear Black Stripe to Honor Bobby 'Slick' Leonard

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Remembering Bobby "Slick" Leonard

Statement from Pacers Sports & Entertainment Owners Herb Simon, Steve Simon, and the Simon Family:
"Pacers fans will remember Bobby 'Slick' Leonard as the spirit of our franchise. With a charisma, intensity, and wit to match his nickname, Slick made us champions. He was our biggest fan and our most loving critic, and he personified Pacers basketball for generations of Hoosier families. Most importantly, though, Slick and Nancy are our family, and his passing leaves an unfillable void in the hearts of everyone associated with this organization. We keep the entire Leonard family in our prayers, and we recognize and honor Slick for what he meant to our state both on and off the court."

Statement from Larry Bird:
"To me, Slick was a real Hoosier, he loved the State and everyone that lives there. He was a great mentor to me and a friend that everyone should have. Slick will be greatly missed and remembered with respect and admiration forever. My family and I send our sincere condolences to Nancy and the Leonard family."

Statement from Reggie Miller:
"This one hurts Pacers Nation...So very saddened by the loss of a beloved human being in Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard. We all know how great a Coach you were in guiding the ABA Pacers to 3 Championships, but you were a much better friend. I will cherish every single one of our conversations and pass them along to my kids. Thinking of Nancy and the Leonard Family during this time."

RELATED: Remembering Bobby "Slick" Leonard »

Bobby "Slick" Leonard:
A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2014, Bobby "Slick" Leonard spent more than 50 years as a part of the Pacers organization, both as a championship-winning coach and a broadcaster. As Pacers’ head coach from 1968-1980, he won 529 games and three ABA championships and was later voted by a national sportswriters and broadcasters association as the ABA’s All-Time Coach.

Named one of Indiana's "50 Greatest Players" and a two-time All-American at Indiana University, Slick was captain of the Hoosiers' 1953 NCAA championship team and Big Ten Championship teams in 1953 and '54. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56 before playing seven years in the NBA with the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers and was named an All Star in 1963.

In addition to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, Slick is enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana Sports Writers and Broadcasters Hall of Fame and was the first person inducted into the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame. He was also honored as a member of Indiana University's All-Century Basketball Team

Finally, Slick is one of just six individuals in Pacers history to have a banner raised in his honor. Hanging from the rafters of Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the banner honors his 529 victories as coach of the Pacers and his contributions to the game.

Slick and his wife, Nancy, have five children, 12 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.