Without her, there may not be an Indiana Pacers.

Star guard Tyrese Haliburton paid tribute to Nancy Leonard, the proclaimed “First Lady of Indiana basketball,” who died Wednesday at the age of 93.

“Before every game, I knew I could count on a wink and a smile behind the bench,” Haliburton said in an X post Wednesday morning.

“There is no Pacers basketball without Nancy Leonard. Can’t wait to see the day her name is in the rafters where it belongs. RIP to a legend and a beautiful soul.” 3

Leonard and her husband, Bobby “Slick” Leonard, who died four years ago, are credited with saving Pacers basketball dating back to the ABA days when the league and teams struggled to stay afloat.

She served as the team’s assistant general manager from 1976-80.

The First Lady of Indiana basketbal

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