If you’re an NBA fan, chances are you’ve thought about the best possible team you could construct from all of the players to ever suit up for your favorite team. The exercise of building a superteam made up of players from different eras always leads to fun results.
As with any all-time list, there is bound to be debate. Who’s missing from the list? Who should or shouldn’t be a starter? Contact us on Twitter and let us know your thoughts!
Note: This list takes into account all Pacers history, including the ABA years.
Starters
C- Mel Daniels
3x Champion, 2x MVP, 7x all star, 5x All ABA, ROY, ABA all time team, Hall of fame
Let’s start with this: Mel Daniels is the best player in pacers history. It’s not Reggie, it’s Mel. End of discussion. One of the biggest tragedies in NBA history is Mel not being the rival to Kareem.
PF- Jermaine O’Neal
6x All Star, 3x All NBA
Jermaine never quite lived up to his potential but he was still an offensive weapon and a defensive force in the 00’s.
SF- Paul George
4x All Star, 3x All NBA, 3x All Defense, MIP
Paul Star was on the path to being the best player in franchise history… until he gave up on the team.
SG- Reggie Miller
5x All Star, 3x All NBA, 75 at 75, Hall of Fame
The second best Pacer ever and the best NBA Pacer. Miller is one of the best shooters in NBA history.
PG- Freddie Lewis
3x Campion, Playoff MVP, 4x All Star ABA MVP
The ABA pacers were legit and there will be more members of that dynasty to make this list.
Reserves
Big- Domantas Sabonis
2x All Star
Sabonis is the only current pacer who I could consider putting into the starting lineup. He didn’t quite make the cut, but Domantas certainly has had enough success in a Pacer uniform to have locked up a spot on the bench.
Forward- George McGinnis
2x Champion, Playoff MVP, MVP, 3x All Star, 3x All ABA, ABA All time team, Hall of Fame
George used his absolutely powerful frame and a one handed jumper to dominate the ABA, unfortunately his heliocentric style didn’t translate to playing next to a superstar in Julius Erving but that doesn’t count for this ranking. George returned to the Pacers for his final 2 years in the NBA.
Wing- Roger Brown
3x Champion, Playoff MVP, 4x All Star, 4x All ABA, ABA All Time Team, Hall of Fame
The NBA black balled roger brown with Connie Hawkins, Brown settled out of court and was therefore never allowed to enter the NBA. He was the scorer and shooter for the dynasty.
Guard- Mark Jackson
A post up guard who could really pass. He had 2 different short stints with the Pacers.
Utility- Ron Artest
All Star, All NBA, DPOY, 2x All Defense
Ron Artest was one of the best defenders ever in his stint with the Pacers. He also has the lowest moment in NBA history with punching the wrong fan in the Malice at the Palace.
Utility- Danny Granger
All Star, MIP
Granger was a large shooter who could fill up points for the pacers. Injuries prevented him from being an all-time Pacers great.
Utility- Rik Smits
All Star
Smits was a giant of a man for the Pacers, and was a solid player during some very successful years for the franchise.
Utility- Victor Oladipo
2x All Star, All NBA, All Defense, MIP
Until his injury, VO looked like the next big thing in Indiana (Wow- that sentence could be used for a lot of players here.)
Utility- Lance Stephenson
All-COVID 10 Day MVP
Lance keeps coming back to Indy, and Indy keeps welcoming back their spirit animal.
Utility- Malcom Brogdon
A great guard who won’t blow you away but is solid on both ends of the court.
2-Way- Chuck Person
ROY
Chuck had all the potential in the world, let’s see if he can live up to it this time.
2-Way- Jalen Rose
MIP
Another MIP for the Pacers.
Honorable Mentions: Roy Hibbert, Herb Williams, Clark Kellog, Myles Turner, David West, Bob Netolicky, Dale and Antonio Davis.
Jordan Ennis
Jordan Ennis lives in West Africa where he is a pastor at an international church, he also co-hosts the Assisted Development Podcast on the HoopSocial Podcasts feed. He can be found at Assisted Development Podcast on Facebook and @HoopSocialDraft on Twitter.