Tyrese Haliburton believes Nancy Leonard will get a memorial banner in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Indiana Pacers star posted on social media after Leonard’s death was announced, calling her the “First Lady of Indiana basketball.”
“There is no Pacers basketball without Nancy Leonard,” Haliburton posted. “Can’t wait to see the day her name is in the rafters where it belongs.”
Leonard, who was 93, was married to Pacers coaching legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Bob “Slick” Leonard, who died in 2021 at age 88. Nancy Leonard served as Pacers de facto general manager in the 1970s and organized the 1977 telethon that kept the team in Indianapolis. She was a fixture courtside as the Pacers reached the 2025 NBA Finals.
Reaction to death of Nancy Leonard, ‘First Lady of Indiana basketball’
The First Lady of Indiana basketball. Before every game, I knew I could count on a wink and a smile behind the bench. 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💛 pic.twitter.com/tDvPOxNO2B
— Tyrese Haliburton (@Hali) September 24, 2025
For Her And Her Family Regardless Of How You Feel About Me Or How Things Ended Some Things Are Just Bigger Than Basketball This Moment Being One Of Them… My Thoughts And Prayers Are With The @pacers Organization And I’m Thankful For Me & Mrs Nancy Time Together ♥️
— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) September 24, 2025
No woman has had more influence on an @NBA franchise than Nancy Leonard had on the @Pacers. She was the driving force behind her husband “Slick,” ran the front office as the assistant GM for a few years and organized the franchise-saving telethon. pic.twitter.com/QWIps2HHAs
— Mark Montieth (@MarkMontieth) September 24, 2025
Nancy and Slick Leonard are finally reunited 🕊️🕊️
R.I.P. to the reason the Pacers are still the INDIANA Pacers. None of this would have happened without them ❤️ pic.twitter.com/mrW7anM829
— 🆁🆄🆂🆃🆈 (@PacersStatsMuse) September 24, 2025
If you love the Indiana Pacers you have this woman to thank for it. Nancy Leonard, wife of Bobby “Slick” Leonard has passed away at the age of 93. 🙏🏀 pic.twitter.com/hT9IusKaKZ
— 🎙Laura Steele🎙 (@RealLauraSteele) September 24, 2025
Damn. Rest in Peace was a lovely woman and a great ambassador to the @Pacers
— Roy Hibbert (@Roy_Meets_World) September 24, 2025
Simply put, without Nancy, the Pacers are not in Indiana.
I’ll always cherish this memory of Nancy on the floor celebrating an Eastern Conference Championship less than 4 months ago.
Rest in Peace, and thank you 🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/lCs79pBMT4 pic.twitter.com/eGwSWuhKzF
— Pat Boylan Fever/Pacers (@PatBoylanPacers) September 24, 2025