INDIANAPOLIS — Coach Rick Carlisle said the Pacers have altered their training camp schedule to allow them to attend the funeral of franchise matriarch Nancy Leonard on Saturday. It will be a private service and not open to the public.
Leonard, the former Pacers general manager and wife of former Pacers coach Bob “Slick” Leonard, helped save the franchise in 1977 when she organized a telethon to keep the Pacers from having to leave Indianapolis. She maintained a presence around the team long until the end and was in the arena when the Pacers won the Eastern Conference championship in May. She died last week at the age of 93.
Carlisle said the Pacers will have their first off day of camp on Thursday and then another Saturday to attend the funeral before hosting Fan Jam at Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
“It’s very important to pay our respects to someone who has been such a big part of this city and this state,” Carlisle said. “… Nancy Leonard is one of one. What she’s meant to obviously this franchise — the franchise wouldn’t even still be here without her — and the city and really just Indiana basketball in general, it’s really amazing. She was the general manager of the Pacers at one time, which is amazing too. There have been a lot of tributes to her over the last several days and deservedly so. We need to pay ultimate respects to her. If we have to change our whole season schedule, we’ll do it.”