Herb Simon: Reflections on a Lifetime of Leadership

In this episode of On Stage, Herb Simon, Owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the longest-tenured owner in NBA and WNBA history, joins Abe Madkour, Publisher and Executive Editor of Sports Business Journal, for a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on more than four decades of ownership, leadership, and basketball. Recorded at SBJ’s AXS Drive conference in Indianapolis on September 23, 2026, the discussion traces Herb Simon’s journey from reluctant Indiana transplant to Basketball Hall of Famer and influential figure in professional sports. He shares the unlikely story of buying the Indiana Pacers in 1983, his approach to building a lasting organization, the evolution of the NBA and WNBA, and why winning, community, and treating people well remain at the heart of his philosophy.

Key themes include:

- An Unexpected Journey into Sports: How a call from the mayor led Herb Simon and his brother to purchase the Pacers and help keep the franchise in Indianapolis.

- Leading with Care: Why continuity, trust, treating people well, and empowering talented leaders have defined Simon’s approach to ownership.

- The Evolution of the NBA and WNBA: Simon reflects on the growth of both leagues, the impact of commissioners David Stern and Adam Silver, and the remarkable rise of the Indiana Fever.

- Players Who Defined an Era: The lasting impact of Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, and Tamika Catchings on Simon, the organization, and basketball in Indiana.

- Building for Indianapolis: How sports, development, and investment in downtown Indianapolis have become intertwined with Simon’s commitment to giving back to the community.

It’s a candid and often humorous conversation with one of basketball’s longest-serving owners about luck, loyalty, family, competition, and the simple principles that have guided a lifetime in business and sports.