I grew up in Indianapolis and those Pacer games at the Fairgrounds Coliseum were the loudest and best games I have ever watched. Watching Mel battle Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel was really something! That was when guys didn't take games off !!! Mel was a true " blue collar " player and Indy loved him. Those Pacer teams were as good or better than what the NBA had then , and throw in Slick Leonard as coach and that's entertainment !!! Thanks for posting these ABA videos.
Don't forget that 76 of the 84 players who finished the last season of the ABA went on to play in the NBA. And with only 7 teams the level of competition was insane. I followed the Colonels, the ABA was legit.
@BBallLore nice. Its a shame that more people don't know or share his story and accomplishments. His story has all the stuff the public likes. We have seen players who actually were involved in point shaving get a documentary on their life. But a player who was innocent, black listed, lost years of his prime just to win in court and still be a great player. Doesn't get covered or even remembered anymore? Thanks for looking into the hawk.
@@jazzpunk keep the lineage alive. Too bad people only live in the moment and fail to acknowledge what their seeing isn't new. I remember when Jordon won the slam dunk contest using a dunk dr J did in a live game. Yet everyone acted amazed like no one had ever done it before. Too many great basketball players get forgotten through the years.
I also grew up near Indianapolis - and saw a LOT of Pacer games on the TV, as well as a couple live - DURING the ABA days. There are reasons Mel was one of 2 players on the "All Time ABA Team" to manage more than one "MVP" vote (Dr. J blew everyone else away on that particular vote) and was one of 7 that achieved "unanimous" vote totals to the team. He was a KEY component to all 3 of the Pacer Championships, and to them making the Finals 4 times (more on each than ANY OTHER ABA team). Reggie is about the only Pacer with enough stature to compete with some of those old time Pacer legends out of all the players that played for them in the NBA (Don Buse might argue the case, but he played during BOTH the ABA *AND* the NBA days).
@@bricefleckenstein9666 to be fair how many people are remembering Louie Dampier and thats scoring. We are lucky when people born after the aba even know their was an aba. Let alone their players besides Dr J. Its sad to say but I know more about other aba teams then the one that was closest to me the Oakland Oaks and I had to look that up. Because I didn't remember them other than Rick Barry signed with them.
@@jasonnelson6624 I remember Louis and Billy Keller shootouts. Louis set a 3 point record - then backed it up the following year - that it took a combination of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen to break - well over 20 years later. And Louis SET that record from further out!
I don’t know if you mean “George McGinnis” who is another famous Pacer but from an individual standpoint you can make an argument for him or anyone else. However Mel’s accomplishments in a Pacers uniform are second to none. He has the MVPs, the rings, was the leader of the championship teams, along with everything else I mentioned in the video. If George McMillan is your Indiana GOAT that’s cool. But no Pacer compares to Mel Daniels.
I'm guessing you mean George McGinnis, a native Hoosier that played for his hometown ABA team for a few years? Highest non-unanimous "All ABA Team" vote total of any player?
I grew up in Indianapolis and those Pacer games at the Fairgrounds Coliseum were the loudest and best games I have ever watched. Watching Mel battle Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel was really something! That was when guys didn't take games off !!! Mel was a true " blue collar " player and Indy loved him. Those Pacer teams were as good or better than what the NBA had then , and throw in Slick Leonard as coach and that's entertainment !!! Thanks for posting these ABA videos.
Don't forget that 76 of the 84 players who finished the last season of the ABA went on to play in the NBA. And with only 7 teams the level of competition was insane. I followed the Colonels, the ABA was legit.
Roger Brown and Mel Daniels
Another great player who has been somewhat forgotten is Connie Hawkins.
I noticed him when doing research for this video. He's definitely getting his spotlight on the channel.
@BBallLore nice. Its a shame that more people don't know or share his story and accomplishments. His story has all the stuff the public likes. We have seen players who actually were involved in point shaving get a documentary on their life. But a player who was innocent, black listed, lost years of his prime just to win in court and still be a great player. Doesn't get covered or even remembered anymore? Thanks for looking into the hawk.
Hawkins was Dr. J before Dr. J... 😊
@@jazzpunk keep the lineage alive. Too bad people only live in the moment and fail to acknowledge what their seeing isn't new. I remember when Jordon won the slam dunk contest using a dunk dr J did in a live game. Yet everyone acted amazed like no one had ever done it before. Too many great basketball players get forgotten through the years.
@ The dunk from the free throw line? ...saw Dr. J do it (on TV).
I also grew up near Indianapolis - and saw a LOT of Pacer games on the TV, as well as a couple live - DURING the ABA days.
There are reasons Mel was one of 2 players on the "All Time ABA Team" to manage more than one "MVP" vote (Dr. J blew everyone else away on that particular vote) and was one of 7 that achieved "unanimous" vote totals to the team.
He was a KEY component to all 3 of the Pacer Championships, and to them making the Finals 4 times (more on each than ANY OTHER ABA team).
Reggie is about the only Pacer with enough stature to compete with some of those old time Pacer legends out of all the players that played for them in the NBA (Don Buse might argue the case, but he played during BOTH the ABA *AND* the NBA days).
Pacers were a great ABA team...one if my favourites was Darnell "Dr. Dunk" Hillman. Killer 'fro didn't hurt, either. 😊
Lol Hillman is the Fro GOAT hands down, no discussion.
You got me. My first thought was the best center on the pacers must be Rik Smits. I forgot about Daniels.
You forget about the all-time ABA rebounding leader?
@@bricefleckenstein9666 to be fair how many people are remembering Louie Dampier and thats scoring. We are lucky when people born after the aba even know their was an aba. Let alone their players besides Dr J. Its sad to say but I know more about other aba teams then the one that was closest to me the Oakland Oaks and I had to look that up. Because I didn't remember them other than Rick Barry signed with them.
@@jasonnelson6624 I remember Louis and Billy Keller shootouts.
Louis set a 3 point record - then backed it up the following year - that it took a combination of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen to break - well over 20 years later.
And Louis SET that record from further out!
@@bricefleckenstein9666 I thought it was John Starks that passed him on 3 pointers made in a season? But of course I could be wrong.
@jasonnelson6624 My boy Louie, the original 3 point man.
Fire video, but please do a spell check on your thumbnail. Keep up the good work. 👍🏾
Better than Unseld and Sikma. At least if he had played in the NBA, people would have seen that.
Yeah they would have but it's better late than never. Just send the people over here so they can be enlightened.
HEY youngster George McMillan is the best player in Indiana history Google him and try doing some homework next time 🤔
I don’t know if you mean “George McGinnis” who is another famous Pacer but from an individual standpoint you can make an argument for him or anyone else. However Mel’s accomplishments in a Pacers uniform are second to none. He has the MVPs, the rings, was the leader of the championship teams, along with everything else I mentioned in the video.
If George McMillan is your Indiana GOAT that’s cool. But no Pacer compares to Mel Daniels.
McGinnis had a nice run with Philly...until Dr. J arrived. 😊
I'm guessing you mean George McGinnis, a native Hoosier that played for his hometown ABA team for a few years?
Highest non-unanimous "All ABA Team" vote total of any player?
@@jazzpunk Dr. J was at Philly before George arrived there.
They were happy to be on the same side for a change!
@@bricefleckenstein9666 McGinnis '75-'76 1st year at Philly...Dr J. '76-'77 1st year at Philly...according to Wiki. 😊