5. Rik Smits:
(1988-2000)
The second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft, Rik Smits
otherwise known as “The Dunkin’ Dutchman” was a 7 foot 4 monster for 13 seasons
in Indiana. Smits made an immediate
impact for the Pacers in his rookie season, starting 71 games and averaging 11
points to go along with 6 rebounds. His
best statistical season came in 1995-96 when he averaged 18.5 points per
game. Smits helped anchor the Pacers to
the 2000 NBA Finals, which they lost, as he competed against one of the all
time great centers; Shaquille O’Neal.
4. Mark Jackson:
(1994-1996, 1997-2000)
Mark Jackson is regarded as one of the greatest point guards
in NBA history. Playing for the Pacers
on two different occasions throughout his career, Jackson was initially traded
to Denver and then traded back to Indiana during the 1996-1997 season. He helped lead Indiana to the Finals in 2000
and is third on the NBA’s all-time assists list, accumulating 10,323 for his
career. Jackson went on to be a color
commentator and is currently the coach of the Golden State Warriors.
3. Mel Daniels: (1968-1974)
Perhaps the most successful Pacer of all time, Mel Daniels
played for Indiana during the ABA years and was a flat out stud. Daniels helped the Pacers win 3 ABA
championships as well as twice being named MVP of the league. He was an imposing forward/center tallying a
career double double average with 18.4 points and 14.9 rebounds per game. Daniels had a highly esteemed career and went
on to coach Indiana for the 1988 NBA season.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this
year.
2. George McGinnis: (1971-1975,
1980-1982)
George McGinnis is an Indiana legend, playing his college
basketball as a Hoosier and is one of four Pacers to have his number
retired. He won 2 ABA Championships and
an ABA scoring title as well as being named co-MVP of the league with Julius
Erving in 1975. Furthermore, he is a
member of the ABA’s All-Time Team.
McGinnis went on to play with Dr. J in the NBA for the Philadelphia
76ers after the league merger and competed in the 1977 NBA Finals. At 6 foot 8, George McGinnis was unstoppable,
posting career averages of 20.2 points to go along with 11 rebounds per game.
1. Reginald “Reggie”
Miller: (1987-2005)
Upon retiring in 2005, Reggie Miller held the NBA record for
career 3-pointers made (he is now second on that list, behind Ray Allen) and
was one of the most clutch playoff performers the likes of which have seldom been
seen. The 11th overall pick
in the 1987 NBA Draft out of UCLA, Miller went on to play his entire career
with Indiana scoring 25,279 points. He
was known for his flamboyant taunting of opponents as well as his prowess as
one of the NBA’s premiere “trash-talkers”.
Though he never won an NBA championship, Reggie won a gold medal with
the United States men’s basketball team in the 1996 Summer Olympics. A 5-time NBA All-Star, Reggie Miller is the
greatest Indiana Pacer player of all time.
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