15 Best Players In Indiana Pacers History

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The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA Championship, but it is worth mentioning that they won three ABA titles. This franchise has had several great moments over the years, starring iconic players. This team has had its ups and downs, as it must be admitted that some years they had a lousy team, but in other years they had an excellent team capable of defeating any opponent.

The Indiana Pacers have hosted many legendary players both in the general NBA history and in the team’s inner circle. Fans of the Pacers have unfortunately never witnessed an NBA Championship, but there are many great talents to make them stand out. Indiana has had their fair share of chances to contend at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Certain talents have stood out more than others to make an impact on the team’s individual history. Pacers fans have appreciated their best overall players with varying levels of success. Some are celebrated in NBA lore, while others are more beloved by the Indiana community. The following Pacers are the best to ever wear the uniform.

UPDATE: 2023/11/13 18:00 EST BY ROBERTH PEREZ

The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA Championship, but it is worth mentioning that they won three ABA titles. This franchise has had several great moments over the years, starring iconic players. This team has had its ups and downs, as it must be admitted that some years they had a lousy team, but in other years they had an excellent team capable of defeating any opponent.

Countless players have worn the Pacers uniform, many were very talented, but only a few showed commitment to the franchise, giving their best for several years to earn the respect and admiration of the fans.

15 Vern Fleming

Vern Fleming was never an elite player, in fact, he never won any award in his career and never even participated in the All-Star game. However, he was loyal to the Indiana Pacers and stayed with the team for 11 seasons, being a consistent player. He averaged 11.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.1 steals, with a Player Efficiency Rating of 15.4 and Value Over Replacement Player of 15.7 (sixth highest in franchise history). Also, Fleming is second in assists (4,038), third in steals (885), and eighth in points (9,535).

14 Dale Davis

Dale Davis was a center and power forward who played for the Indiana Pacers for 10 seasons. He was one of the players who, along with Reggie Miller, made the Pacers one of the best teams in the NBA in the 1990s. However, they were unable to win a championship ring because Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls were at their peak. Davis averaged 9.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, with a Player Efficiency Rating of 15.6. Davies is second in franchise history in rebounds (6,006) and sixth in blocks (904).

13 Detlef Schrempf

Detlef Schrempf played five seasons with the Indiana Pacers, from 88-89 to 1992-93. In that span, he left his mark on the team with several amazing performances. He recorded 17 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, with a Player Efficiency Rating of 18.6. The German forward was an excellent player, and was a crucial part in Pacers’ four consecutive Playoffs appearances, but unfortunately nothing more than that. The Grand Teuton peaked with the Indiana Pacers, but most fans remember him in a Seattle Supersonics uniform.

12 Roy Hibbert

The Indiana Pacers had a short run as a top East contender in the 2010s with Roy Hibbert as their starting center. Hibbert was considered the second most important player on a team that made the Eastern Conference Finals multiple times before running into LeBron James’ Miami Heat big three.

The NBA peak of Hibbert ended quickly, but he had his best seasons with the Pacers averaging 11.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. Hibbert made two All-Star teams and was selected to an All-Defensive team once.

11 Mark Jackson

The playing career of Mark Jackson saw him having two stints for the Indiana Pacers each when the team was a contender. Indiana trusted Jackson as the starting point guard since he was considered one of the better passers in the league.

Jackson averaged 8.4 points and 8.1 assists per game back at a time when low-scoring games and fewer stats were more common. Most of the greatest Pacers seasons came with Jackson as a starting guard in the backcourt with Reggie Miller. This stint helped build Jackson's reputation and helped him become a short-lived coach after retirement.

10 Domantas Sabonis

The Indiana Pacers benefited from Domantas Sabonis coming over as a young prospect in the Paul George trade. Sabonis is one of the few players in Pacers history to make multiple All-Star appearances for the franchise.

The five seasons in Indiana helped Sabonis make his name in the league by averaging 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. A lack of winning sent Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, who hopes to be on this list one day with an epic start to his run.

9 Ron Artest

The “what could have been” conversation for Ron Artest will see fans wondering how far the Indiana Pacers could have gone if not for his issues. Artest is remembered most in Indiana for the infamous malice at the palace brawl that ruined the Pacers seasons due to his suspension.

The Indiana stint of Artest was still impressive in the short tenure before they got tired of his antics. Artest had his best season in 2003-2004 winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award, along with his only All-Star and All-NBA selections.

8 Danny Granger

Danny Granger is the kind of player that the average fan likely forgets from the 2000s. However, Indiana Pacers diehards will have a strong attachment to him for decades. Granger led the franchise during tough times by carrying a weaker roster without much help.

The Pacers tenure of Granger saw him averaging 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as their top player. Granger made one All-Star team and won the Most Improved Player award in Indiana. Injuries slowed him down before the team improved with stronger depth.

7 Victor Oladipo

It has become a running joke that the Indiana Pacers are the perfect franchise for players to win the Most Improved Player award. Victor Oladipo joined the list of names to win it for the franchise in 2018. Pacers fans fell in love with Oladipo when he stepped up after they traded Paul George for him and others.

Oladipo averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game during his four seasons in Indiana. Injuries ended the stint faster than expected, but Oladipo made two All-Star appearances, received one All-NBA selection and even made an All-Defensive team in that time.

6 Rik Smits

The 1990s Indiana Pacers had a tremendous core of tough players that fit well together. Rik Smits was the second most important talent during that time by spending all eleven seasons of his NBA career with one franchise.

Only one All-Star appearance was the major accolade for Smits, but he was the kind of player that fit more into a system than tried to dominate. Smits averaged 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in Indiana with a few noteworthy clutch plays in the postseason.

5 Jermaine O'Neal

Jermaine O'Neal may be the most underrated center of the 2000s looking back at his Indiana Pacers tenure. The center drafted out of high school progressed in Indiana winning the Most Improved Player award two seasons into joining the team.

Pacers fans witnessed O’Neal averaging 18.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in his eight seasons with the team. All six All-Star appearances and three All-NBA selections for O’Neal came with Indiana when he was arguably the best center in the East.

4 Roger Brown

NBA Hall of Famer Roger Brown was one of the pioneers of the Indiana Pacers, one of the men fans fell in love with in the 1970s, when the Pacers dominated the ABA. Brown was a crucial part of the three championships the Pacers won. He averaged 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Brown ranks second in franchise history in Win Shares (63.5) and fourth in total points (10,058).

3 Mel Daniels

Along with Roger Brown, Mel Daniels led the Indiana Pacers to three ABA Championship victories. He was a very above-average player, and was a difference-maker in virtually every game. In six seasons with the Pacers, he averaged 19.4 points, 16.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, giving him a Player Efficiency Rating of 20.1. Today, Daniels remains the franchise's all-time leader in total rebounds, with 7,643.

2 Paul George

There was hope for Paul George to become the greatest Indiana Pacer of all time early into his career. However, George didn’t believe the franchise was committed to winning and requested a trade after seven seasons.

Indiana fans still loved having George as their top star since he averaged 18.1 points and 6.3 assists per game. There were four All-Star appearances and three All-NBA selections for PG in his Pacers run. Indiana became the top East threat to the Miami Heat in the 2010s, but LeBron James was too good to overcome.

1 Reggie Miller

There is little debate against Reggie Miller having the top spot as the most important Indiana Pacers superstar ever. Miller spent his entire career eighteen-season career in Indiana as the face of the franchise with the roster built around.

The accolades of Reggie are not as impressive as most think with just five All-Star appearances and three All-NBA selections. Miller averaged just 18.2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. However, it was his leadership and clutch plays that gave the Pacers franchise their most successful time in the NBA.