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Who are the top Indiana Pacers of all time? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Dale Davis: a rugged forward who often played with his brother Antonio on the Pacers, Davis spent a decade in Indianapolis and nearly averaged a double-double (9.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game) with an All-Star appearance.
9. Rik Smits: a 7’4” Dutchman who was a behemoth at center, Smits played his entire NBA career with the Pacers (12 seasons) and averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with one All-Star selection.
8. Freddie Lewis: the floor general for three Pacers championships in the American Basketball Association (ABA), Lewis averaged 16.1 points and 4.0 assists per game in eight seasons with Indiana, including a pair of All-Star selections.
7. Danny Granger: the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2008-2009, Granger blossomed into a star in nearly nine seasons in Indiana before injuries sapped his effectiveness, highlighted by three straight seasons of scoring 20+ points per game (17.6 points per game as a Pacer) and a lone All-Star season in 2008-2009.
6. Roger Brown: across eight seasons with the Pacers in the ABA, Brown was a 4x All-Star and 3x All-ABA pick who averaged 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game and led the team to three ABA titles.
5. Paul George: spending his first seven seasons in a Pacers uniform, George gradually evolved into an All-Star/All-NBA player – with averages of 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, he was a 4x All-Star, 3x All-NBA, and 3x All-Defensive player in Indianapolis and the Most Improved Player in 2012-2013.
4. Jermaine O’Neal: acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers, O’Neal blossomed with Indiana in the 2000s, winning Most Improved Player in 2001-2002 and averaging close to a double-double for eight seasons (18.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game) with six straight All-Star Games and three All-NBA selections.
3. George McGinnis: the 1974-1975 ABA MVP and scoring champion, McGinnis played seven seasons for the Pacers in both the ABA and NBA with three All-Star and All-ABA nods and a pair of titles on averages of 19.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
2. Mel Daniels: one of the team’s early stars in the ABA, Daniels averaged an astounding 19.4 points and 16.0 rebounds per game across half a dozen years as a Pacer, resulting in six consecutive All-Star selections, five All-ABA selections, three rebounding crowns, a pair of ABA MVP awards, three ABA titles, ad the most rebounds in franchise history.
1. Reggie Miller: known for his clutch shooting in the 1990s, Miller was a 5x All-Star and 3x All-NBA selection who played his entire 18-year career with the Pacers and was regarded as the elite shooter of his day, averaging 18.2 points per game for his career and retiring as the NBA’s all-time leading three-point shooter.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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