The Indiana Pacers were established as an ABA member.
Indiana Pacers . The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member club of the league 's Eastern Conference Central Division . The Pacers were first established in 1967 as a member of the American Basketball Association ( ABA ) and became a member of the NBA in 1976 as a result of the ABA -- NBA merger . The Pacers have won three championships , all in the ABA .