I like your order overall. Correct #1 and 2 for sure. As a thought beyond Clark Kellogg needing some Mention folks forget how promising Chuck “rifleman” Person was in the 80s. Chuck Person's best year with the Indiana Pacers was likely 1988, when he averaged a career-high 21.6 points. Person played for the Pacers from 1986 to 1992, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1987.
Person's rookie year or the 90-91 season could or should have made at the very least the top ten. Person was the face of the franchise before Reggie and was also a BIGTIME clutch playoff performer.
I know you don't consider ABA statistics (maybe we should count NBA stats before 1976 either). BUT George McGinnis 1974-75 29.8 points per game 14.3 rebounds per game 6.3 assists per game 2.6 steals per game
I think Chuck Persons rookie season at the very least should have made the top ten. They made the playoffs his rookie year after having missed the playoffs entirely the year prior and he averaged 27 points and 8 rebounds They only won 26 games the season prior. They lost to the Hawks 3-1 but the 4th game was close. Person won rookie of the year by a wide margin that year. If not his rookie season then the 90-91 season could have made the list. He averaged almost 20 ppg and was most definitely a clutch player. Averaged 28 points that playoff series. Person was an absolute Monster that 1st rd Boston series .
I'll reiterate that Clark Kellogg's rookie season deserves at least honorable mention. He averaged 20 and 10 and was high in the rookie of the year voting.
Agreed. This has always haunted me and many Pacers fans. I took a little solace when upon watching the Malice doc that it was clear this team was off the charts in talent but frankly was low on maturity. That season was just starting and I doubt now they could Keep it together emotionally and mentally for 82 games. In fact Reggie is on record saying one reason he retired was due to lack maturity and professionalism in new players. So - it’s a good dream but it takes more than talent and that group got into childish shenanigans very often. Later many of them matured on other teams sadly. Less raw talent, more maturity, more success.
They would have won the Championship that year. The Spurs were nowhere near ready to handle us at that time. We were screwed out of a Championship for sure..
We need a Ron Artest right now more than ever. To think we could have had 3 really good defensive players this year. If we'd signed and traded for the right player kills me..
I like your order overall. Correct #1 and 2 for sure.
As a thought beyond Clark Kellogg needing some
Mention folks forget how promising Chuck “rifleman” Person was in the 80s.
Chuck Person's best year with the Indiana Pacers was likely 1988, when he averaged a career-high 21.6 points. Person played for the Pacers from 1986 to 1992, and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1987.
Person's rookie year or the 90-91 season could or should have made at the very least the top ten. Person was the face of the franchise before Reggie and was also a BIGTIME clutch playoff performer.
I know you don't consider ABA statistics (maybe we should count NBA stats before 1976 either). BUT
George McGinnis 1974-75
29.8 points per game
14.3 rebounds per game
6.3 assists per game
2.6 steals per game
The answer for ABA is Mel Daniel's 1970-1971 or 1971-1972. It's probably the best Pacers season by a player ever.
McGinnis and Mel would have dominated if the ABA was included.
I think Chuck Persons rookie season at the very least should have made the top ten.
They made the playoffs his rookie year after having missed the playoffs entirely the year prior and he averaged 27 points and 8 rebounds
They only won 26 games the season prior. They lost to the Hawks 3-1 but the 4th game was close. Person won rookie of the year by a wide margin that year.
If not his rookie season then the 90-91 season could have made the list. He averaged almost 20 ppg and was most definitely a clutch player. Averaged 28 points that playoff series.
Person was an absolute Monster that 1st rd Boston series .
That '97-'98 team was one timeout away from winning Game 7.
I'll reiterate that Clark Kellogg's rookie season deserves at least honorable mention. He averaged 20 and 10 and was high in the rookie of the year voting.
He was pretty amazing. Agreed deserves honorable mention.
The Pacers were looking like champions when Ron Artest had his brawl in Detroit with the Pistons. We thought they'd take the title that year.
Agreed. This has always haunted me and many Pacers fans. I took a little solace when upon watching the Malice doc that it was clear this team was off the charts in talent but frankly was low on maturity. That season was just starting and I doubt now they could
Keep it together emotionally and mentally for 82 games. In fact Reggie is on record saying one reason he retired was due to lack maturity and professionalism in new players. So - it’s a good dream but it takes more than talent and that group got into childish shenanigans very often. Later many of them matured on other teams sadly. Less raw talent, more maturity, more success.
they were also on their way to the top in the year the Knicks beat them in the Gran-Ma-Ma game.
They would have won the Championship that year. The Spurs were nowhere near ready to handle us at that time. We were screwed out of a Championship for sure..
We need a Ron Artest right now more than ever. To think we could have had 3 really good defensive players this year. If we'd signed and traded for the right player kills me..
He was definitely a Beast. I was most definitely a fan back then