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The Top 10 Draft Picks in Indiana Pacers History

By William Furr

Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) defends against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won in overtime 122-119. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke (3) defends against Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) during the second half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Jazz won in overtime 122-119. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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2. Paul George

In 2010, with the 10th pick in the draft, the Indiana Pacers drafted a relative unknown with two first names — despite having an All-Star at the same position.

Paul George, who couldn’t crack the rotation under head coach Jim O’Brien, was unleashed like a defensive bomb under Frank Vogel. He was soon a starter and truly entered the NBA stage by showing his potential while chasing MVP Derrick Rose in the first round of the playoffs. Rose still got his points — he was unstoppable — but George’s ability to make life more difficult for the MVP kept he Pacers in a series they had no chance of being in.

All he’s done since then is improve every single year — to the point that PG is now considered by some to be the NBA’s best two-way player. At his best, in the first half of 2013-14 and in the early going this season, he has reached such heights as to enter the MVP conversation. Most memorably, George went head to head with LeBron and the Miami Heat for three straight years in the playoffs, and though he was unable to conquer King James, he sent a message that the Pacers were for real.

Now recovered from a gruesome broken leg injury, PG looks better than ever. At just 25-years-old, the the soon-to-be three-time All-Star may go down as the best player in team history by the time he hangs up his sneakers.

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