Indiana Pacers: 15 best scorers in franchise history

14. Johnny Davis, 1978-1982

Pacers shooting: 16.4 ppg, FG: 45.3%, 3P: 12.7%, FT: 81.3%

Look at that 3-point percentage, it was a different time.

Anyway, for four years Davis was either the leading scorer or a leading scorer while playing heavy minutes (34.7 per during his Pacers tenure). The Pacers were largely mediocre during his tenure, making only one playoff during the only winning season (44-38 in 1980-81), but Indiana was not uncompetitive either.

Davis’ time in Indiana was the most productive of his career.

He lead the team in scoring twice, accounted for 15 percent of the Pacers’ offense and scored well over half of his 9,710 points (5,234).

Davis’ game was somewhat reminiscent of DeMar DeRozan’s, if you squint. When he had the ball he would dart in, out, left right, wherever he had to go to find some open space. But, he didn’t move haltingly.

Davis was smooth, looking more like he was gliding than running. He jumper was deployed frequently to superb effect.

Davis is a victim of playing in the Pacers dark age. He was one of the stars who shined between the immense success of the ABA and the franchise’s resurrection in the early-mid nineties. For that reason, and really for that reason alone, it’s easy to overlook number 16.