INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 11: Gabe McGlothan #41 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 11, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers have signed wing Gabe McGlothan to a 10-day contract, the team announced on Tuesday. The signing was done using the NBA’s hardship exception, which is what allowed the Pacers to add a player on a 10-day deal at this point in the season.
McGlothan was with the Pacers during training camp and the preseason just two months ago. He made four appearances in the tune-up games, where he averaged 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. McGlothan struggled mightily with shot making but impressed on the glass.
He originally signed with the Pacers on an Exhibit 10 contract, which was designed to put him with Indiana’s G League affiliate team, the Noblesville Boom. That meant McGlothan was waived after training camp, a procedural move at the time.
Because of all that, McGlothan knows the Pacers system. And he’s played well for the Boom this season, appearing in 14 games for Noblesville while averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. 52.9% of his shots from the field have gone in. He’s scored 20+ points in three of his last five outings.
“Hard playing guy. Tough minded. Three-and-D, NBA caliber player,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of McGlothan.
That two-month journey brings McGlothan back to the Pacers. He joins an injured team, and those injuries are why the Pacers can even add McGlothan in the first place. To be eligible for a hardship contract, an NBA team must have four players who have missed three-straight games and project to be out for at least two more weeks. Indiana meets that criteria with long-term injuries impacting Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton, Ben Sheppard, and Obi Toppin.
Indiana Pacers forward Gabe McGlothan (41) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (0) during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
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Thus, the Pacers have a new resource. And with Sheppard, Toppin, and Nesmith all out, a wing/forward made the most sense to bring in. McGlothan may not be in the rotation, but he’s an injury or foul trouble away from hitting the hardwood.
Seemingly every year, the Pacers reward a player from their G League affiliate with a call up to the NBA. McGlothan is the first player to receive that honor this season and the 28th all time.
“Congrauations to him. He’s earned it,” Carlisle said. “As an organization, we like to promote from within whenever we can.”
What Gabe McGlothan brings to the Pacers
This is McGlothan’s first-ever NBA contract. The 26-year old had a long collegiate career before going undrafted in 2024, then spent his rookie season in the Denver Nuggets organization. All of his game action came in the G League in year one.
Now, he’s in the NBA and has a chance to appear in his first game. If he does, he’d be the 23rd Pacer to play in a game this season already.
“Just effort. A lot of effort. Bringing energy, effort, and then on the defensive end helping there. Wherever they need me, that’s where I’ll fill in,” McGlothan said when asked how he can help the Pacers.
After his first practice, the Arizona native recalled how his preseason stint with Indiana helped him figure out how everything works – both on and off the court – with the franchise. He loves his fit within the team’s culture.
Once he found out that a 10-day deal would be coming from the Pacers, he quickly called his mom. McGlothan wanted to tell her the news, but she was about to board a plane. He reached her just in time, filled with excitement about his coming NBA opportunity.
“I’m going to fly her out. That’s already in the plan,” McGlothan said of getting his mom to a game. “Once [the contract] all got in the works, I [was] going to make sure she finds time.”
The Pacers next play a game on Thursday when they host the New York Knicks. Then, they’ll head out on a short two-game road trip in New Orleans and Boston before returning home to host Milwaukee. McGlothan will be a part of it all – his contract will last through December 25.
His 10-day agreement will come with a cap hit of just under $132k for the Pacers. They have spent a non-trivial amount of money signing players to hardship contracts and making other moves to combat injuries. McGlothan is the latest transaction, and the Pacers are now about $4.6 million shy of the luxury tax line.