Andrew Patton’s Indiana Pacers All Decade Team
When looking back at the 2010s, the Indiana Pacers had the most success from 2012-2014. After making it to the 2nd round in 2012, the blue and gold made a run to the Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. Unfortunately, the LeBron James and the Miami Heat ended the Pacers’ seasons all three years. James has been the one hurdle the Pacers have not been able to clear as he ended their seasons in 2017 and 2018 as well.
George Hill, PG 2011-2016
This was a two player race, but I have to give the nod to George Hill over Darren Collison. Hill was the best point guard to wear a Pacers jersey since Mark Jackson. Hill was often the fifth scoring option during Indiana’s most successful seasons. He also stepped up and led the Pacers in scoring during the injury depleted 2014-15 season (One of only two years the Pacers missed the playoffs (2010, 2014)). Hill also led the team in win shares in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons.
Victor Oladipo, SG 2017-present
Oladipo revived the franchise upon arriving in Indiana via trade alongside Domantas Sabonis in the summer of 2017. Oladipo quickly made Indiana his team and his city. He has only played in 111 games with the franchise, but made the All-Star team in both seasons that he played in. He led the team in win shares in 2017-18 and came the closest to knocking off LeBron James in a playoff series in 2018. The future is bright with the return of Oladipo around the corner.
Paul George, SF 2010-2017
Paul George may be the greatest individual player that has ever donned an Indiana Pacers jersey. George was a four-time All-Star with the Pacers. He came back undeterred from a gruesome leg injury suffered in 2014. It hurt when George demanded to be traded in 2017, but no one can deny what he accomplished in a Pacers jersey. Who can forget George dueling with LeBron James in the playoffs? Remember the dunk on Birdman? Paul George provided so many great memories as a Pacer.
David West, PF 2011-2015
This was the toughest position to choose a starter. West edged Thaddeus Young and Sabonis by providing the leadership that held the Eastern Conference Finals teams together. If it wasn’t for West carrying the Pacers to victory in Game 6 of the first round of the 2014 playoffs, we would have never seen Lance Stephenson blowing in LeBron’s ear. It would have been one of the biggest upsets in playoff history with #1 seed Indiana losing to #8 seed Atlanta. David West was and still is the greatest free agent signing in franchise history.
Roy Hibbert C 2008-2015
Hibbert’s block of Carmelo Anthony in the 2013 playoffs cements his spot on the All-Decade Team over Myles Turner. That was the biggest block in franchise history. Hibbert was so influential that the verticality rule was created and still enforced today. Hibbert was able to control his body by jumping straight up with his arms stretched high. In his peak years, no one defended the paint better than Roy Hibbert.
Next. Bennett's Indiana Pacers All-Decade Team. dark
Honorable Mention: Darren Collison, Lance Stpehenson, Danny Granger, Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner.