Basketball has a long history and is extremely important in Indiana and Indianapolis. As a result, the Indiana Pacers’ hosting of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend makes too much sense. The All-Star Game and all of the All-Star events are a celebration of the best players in the NBA, and throughout their history, the Pacers have had plenty of excellent players.
Melanie Daniels, C.
Mel Daniels edged out George McGinnis and Jermaine O’Neal for the final slot on the list of the greatest Pacers ever. He won three ABA championships with Indiana in the early 1970s and was named league MVP twice before the Pacers entered the NBA.
Daniels was a beast on the inside. His career scoring average is 18.4 points per game, but by his second season in the league (first with the Pacers), he was averaging 24 points. However, on the court, the big man was even more dominant. Daniels averaged 14.9 rebounds per game over the course of his career, securing 18 boards on average during his best season and thrice leading the NBA in rebounding.
Rik Smits (C)
Shaquille O’Neal once claimed that Rik Smits was the player that gave him the most problems—the highest of praise from one of the greatest players ever. Smits dominated thanks to his intimidating size and strength. He stood 7’4″ and played for the Pacers from 1988 until 2000.
Smits was one of the key players during the Pacers’ best years in the NBA. He was a one-time All-Star, and after his rookie season, Indiana made the playoffs every year he was on the team except for one. Smits is second in games played for the franchise with 867, and his 12,871 total points also rank second.
The Dunking Dutchman was a great post scorer who was capable of scoring in a variety of ways, whether with his back to the basket or courtesy of a smooth mid-range shot. Smits, like Reggie Miller, spent his entire career with the Pacers, which adds to his franchise star power.
Paul George, SF
Paul George had the makings to be the franchise’s next Reggie Miller. Unfortunately, he didn’t stick in town long enough, as he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder after seven seasons in Indianapolis. Still, there is a solid case that George is the most skilled player to ever suit up for the Pacers. In fact, young athletes frequently choose George as their favourite player because of how smooth and complete his aesthetically pleasing game is.
George can truly do it all, as he demonstrated during his time with the Pacers. His handle is unrivalled for someone his size, he plays lockdown defence, can pull up in the midrange, and can make three-pointers.
George isn’t in the Pacers’ top ten in most all-time statistical categories, but he did help the franchise regain relevance. Indiana competed in the playoffs with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat for three consecutive seasons beginning in 2011-12, twice facing the Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Additionally, George put up great numbers in his relatively brief stint with the organization. He averaged 18.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game with the Pacers despite having a minimal role in his debut season. After his rookie year, George became the team’s leader and won the Most Improved Player award, paving the way for three Third Team All-NBA and three All-Defense selections before leaving Indianapolis.
Roger Brown, Science Fiction
Roger Brown was the Pacers’ first superstar. Brown played in Indiana during their ABA days, and although his career only lasted eight seasons (seven with the Pacers), he made a big impact on the Pacers and is among many reasosn why basketball is such a big deal in the state of Indiana.
Brown was a four-time ABA All-Star and a one-time All-ABA First-Team member, and he was the 1970 playoffs MVP. The Pacers have never won the NBA Finals, but they won the ABA Finals three times, all under the leadership of Brown.
While there is much debate about who deserves the other spots and in what order on this list, there is no denying who is the greatest Indiana Pacers player of all time. Miller is a legend and one of the best shooting guards of all time, and he spent his entire 18-year career with Indiana, making him synonymous with the franchise. He is by far the most important player in Pacers history, and he completely changed basketball by helping popularize the three-point shot.
Miller was the NBA’s three-point leader for a long time, and he still ranks fourth in all-time makes from deep with 2,560. He is the Pacers franchise leader in games (1,389), minutes (47,619), points (25,279), and assists (4,141). Miller’s shot-making ability and clutch play helped the Pacers basketball team reach its peak in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The shooting guard might actually not have as many accolades as you would expect, though. Michael Jordan usually prevented him from reaching the NBA Finals, and he lost to Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers when he finally did reach the biggest stage in 1999-00. Miller was also only a five-time All-Star, although he was commonly snubbed from the game or was blocked by fellow superstars at his position.
Don’t allow his lack of All-Star appearances reduce your impression of him. Miller is by far the best player in Pacers’ history, and without his willingness to incorporate the three-point shot, the game wouldn’t be what we know it as today.
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