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NBA Free Agency 2017: The Indiana Pacers will invite Tyler Hansbrough to training camp

By Hunter Kuffel

Sep 25, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward/center Tyler Hansbrough (50) during media day at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward/center Tyler Hansbrough (50) during media day at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Newly minted Pacers president Kevin Pritchard recently appeared on the Dan Dakich show to talk about the team and where he thinks they can improve. Unprompted, he brought up former Pacer and folk legend Tyler Hansbrough.

After Larry Bird stepped down, long time executive Kevin Pritchard took his place as president of basketball operations. To discuss his thoughts on the team’s future, Pritchard made an appearance on the Dan Dakich show.

The two talked about a lot of things (you can find the whole conversation here), but an especially intriguing moment came when Pritchard mentioned how much he admired the grit and the toughness that Tyler Hansbrough brought when he was on the team. No, that wasn’t a typo. Pritchard used Tyler “Psycho-T” Hansbrough as an example of a player with grit.

This man:

Tyler Hansbrough may be re-joining the Pacers next season.
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

Pritchard praised Psycho-T for his ability to help the team win games in January and February, despite not being a “super talented player.”

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Dakich asked if Pritchard will bring back Hansbrough, who just wrapped up his season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the G-League team affiliated with the Pacers. “We’re going to invite him to camp,” Pritchard said.

Hansbrough’s Career

Psycho-T was with the Pacers for four seasons from 2009-2013, playing in 246 games and starting in 38 of them. Over those four seasons, he averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He was a decent backup power forward, known more for accidentally antagonizing Metta World Peace later in his career than for his merits on the court.

I’m not sure if Pritchard was serious about inviting Hansbrough to camp or if he was just trying to talk his way out of Dakich’s question.  As to whether I want Psycho-T back in Banker’s Life: ….ehhh.

Toughness and grit are great characteristics to have, and they’re crucial to achieving greatness in the NBA. However, there is a reason that Hansbrough was putting up double-doubles for the Mad Ants last season and not for NBA team. It’s unlikely that Psycho-T is on another NBA regular-season roster in his career, seeing as he’s 31 and wasn’t athletic to begin with.

Next: Six former Indiana Pacers in the BIG3

All that being said, if he brings back the face mask, I am 10,000 percent on board.

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