The Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers' D-League affiliate, are off to the best start in franchise history. Second-year head coach Steve Gansey has guided Fort Wayne to a 5-0 start to the 2016-17 season. The Mad Ants are the only remaining unbeaten team out of 22 D-League squads.
Their season got off to a stellar start on Nov. 12, when they opened the season on the road against the expansion Greensboro Swarm. The Mad Ants spoiled the Swarm's opener, scoring 79 points in the first half and rolling to a 120-99 win. Ben Bentil, signed briefly by the Pacers late in training camp to attain his D-League affiliate rights, had 27 points and 10 rebounds in his D-League debut.