Quick Thoughts on the Pacers’ universe
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Paul George was everywhere over the weekend: Purdue, Lucas Oil Stadium. He’s developing a personality in the community, which every franchise likes to see from its marquee star.
Pacers great Roger Brown wasn’t alive to see his achievements recognized by yesterday’s induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. That’s too bad. He was the very first member of the franchise, and although he won three ABA championships, was a four-time All-Star and averaged 17.4 points per game in eight seasons, Brown just never seemed to get his fair due. He didn’t play in the NBA. He was banned from college. As old coach Slick Leonard once sadly observed, “Nobody remembers Roger.”
Like Lance Stephenson, Brown was a high school star in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, but unlike Stephenson, Brown’s life took such a turn that he was working at General Motors in between high school and the glorious day he became an original signee of the Pacers. Because of an apparently unwitting assistance given to con man Jack Molinas, who paid players to fix point spreads, Brown was not allowed to play at Dayton or in the NBA. His mainstream basketball career was derailed from the time he left Wingate High School until he turned 25. There likely has not been a better talent stricken by such an unusual circumstance. Can you imagine this happening to a Kobe Bryant or Andrew Wiggins?
Brown joined the newly formed Indianapolis club for a $17,000 base salary and a signing bonus of $2,000. Talk about a bargain.
A 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward, Brown posted some insane stat lines – 27.0 points, 8.4 rebounds in 17 playoff games in 1969 and 28.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 15 playoff games the following year – and left such an impression that he was often called by his nickname, “The Rajah.” Liver cancer took the life of Brown in 1997 at age 54. It’s been awhile since his name was celebrated. But the Hall of Fame finally granted Brown the respect he deserves.
Brown joined Reggie Miller and Mel Daniels as players identified mainly as Pacers who are enshrined in Springfield, Mass. He scored over 10,000 points for Indiana – more than anyone but Miller, Rik Smits and Billy Knight. His No. 35 jersey was retired on Nov. 2, 1985. Brown is one of the most important men in the history of basketball in the state of Indiana.
So who’s next on the Pacers’ Hall of Fame watch list? Let’s go through a quick rundown of figures old and new, from legitimate cases to long shots to foreseeable possibilities:
Bobby “Slick” Leonard: He led the team to those three ABA titles, and was coach from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure in franchise history. His teams went 529-456 and reached five ABA finals. As a player, Leonard starred at Indiana, helping the Hoosiers to the 1953 NCAA title. It might take a while longer, but the voters can see a strong case when the ABA committee recommends it.
Jermaine O’Neal: Nearly 13,000 points, approaching 2,000 blocks, some 7,000 rebounds, six All-Star appearances: The raw numbers are more overwhelming than those of Ralph Sampson, and most per-minute statistics exceed Wes Unseld’s. But Unseld was an elite rebounder and won a championship. O’Neal’s body of work warrants at least some consideration, but injuries took a toll and the resume lacks zip. Chances are, he falls shy of Springfield.
Paul George: Obviously, no credentials yet, but he has a chance to play at a very high level for a very long time.
George McGinnis: His candidacy: Two ABA titles, over 17,000 points between the ABA and NBA, a co-MVP award in the ABA that was shared with Julius Erving. All he did in one year in college at Indiana was average 29.9 points and 14.7 rebounds. He is one of the game’s great, great talents.
Donnie Walsh: As a front office man, Walsh did everything but win Executive of the Year and an NBA title. His teams made six appearances in the conference finals and went to the playoffs 16 times in a 17-year stretch. Like Leonard and McGinnis, Walsh has at least been nominated for the Hall multiple times.
