The Indiana Pacers have embraced the catchy phrase “Yes ‘Cers” as their rallying cry during their run to the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The slogan appears on the team’s warmup shirts and on fan merchandise throughout Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
As the Pacers return to the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, a wave of renewed energy surrounds the franchise, embodied in their new catchphrase. In their previous Finals appearance in 2000, the team was led by a slender point guard and coached by a former Celtics player. The current Pacers echo that formula, with Tyrese Haliburton at the helm and Rick Carlisle as head coach, but they’ve added new traditions to celebrate this long-awaited return to basketball prominence.
One of the most visible elements is the phrase “Yes ‘Cers,” which has become ubiquitous across Indianapolis this postseason. The slogan appears on warmup shirts, fan gear, and the bright yellow tees draped across seats at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. While the arena is the same one that hosted past playoff runs, the team has introduced these fresh elements to create a distinct identity during this championship push.
The Origin and Meaning of “Yes ‘Cers”
The “Yes ‘Cers” slogan was officially launched by the Pacers organization as their tagline ahead of the 2024-25 season, introduced through promotional videos aimed at familiarizing fans with the phrase. The clever wordplay riffs on the colloquial “Yessir,” adapted to include the team’s nickname. What began as a simple marketing campaign has evolved into something far more meaningful over the course of the playoffs, becoming a term of endearment among fans clad in the team’s signature navy and yellow.
What makes the phrase especially distinctive are its design elements. Attentive fans have noticed that the apostrophe in “Yes ‘Cers” is shaped like the state of Indiana-a subtle but meaningful detail that ties the team’s identity to its home state. This touch has resonated deeply with local fans, who appreciate the regional pride embedded in the slogan. It gained even more significance when Tyrese Haliburton endorsed the phrase on social media following the conference finals victory over the New York Knicks, writing simply: “‘Cers in 6.”
During the playoffs, the popularity of the phrase has skyrocketed. The Pacers organization places “Yes ‘Cers” shirts on every seat before each home game. These bright canary-yellow garments create a visually striking atmosphere, in contrast to many other NBA arenas where single-color crowd coordination has become less common. Rick Carlisle’s squad has embraced the bold shirts as part of their identity, and “Yes ‘Cers” gear has become a tangible representation of the community’s excitement.
Local Impact and Community Embrace
Beyond the arena, the “Yes ‘Cers” movement has spread across Indianapolis, providing an economic boost to local businesses. T-shirt shops like Nap or Nothing in Fountain Square and United State of Indiana near Broad Ripple have seen a surge in sales thanks to the Pacers’ Finals appearance. Store owners report that Pacers-themed merchandise-especially items in the team’s signature colors-is flying off the shelves, requiring constant restocking.
“It’s right in front of us; we see it and feel the support,” said Antonio Maxie, owner of Nap or Nothing, noting that his shop is generating thousands of dollars in additional sales. Graham Brown, of United State of Indiana, observed that this playoff run has even drawn in people who don’t normally follow basketball: “People who aren’t usually basketball fans are saying, ‘Well, I’ve got to be part of this too.'”
The excitement around the “Yes ‘Cers” movement has even reached beyond state lines, with both brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers reporting increased sales from customers across the country. As the Finals continue and the series returns to Indianapolis, the sea of “Yes ‘Cers” yellow shirts is expected to create an intimidating visual atmosphere-a wave of canary yellow that could make Thunder players think twice and energize both the home team and its passionate fan base.
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