Indiana Pacers: 10 best point guards in franchise history
By Josh Wilson
3. George Hill
The Indiana Pacers secured the point guard they desired to pair next to Paul George in George Hill during the 2011 NBA Draft, surrendering the pick the San Antonio Spurs used to add Kawhi Leonard to their roster.
Ironically, with San Antonio, Leonard would win a Finals MVP over LeBron James and the Miami Heat, the team the Pacers struggled mightily to get past while Hill was on the team.
It’s unfair to stack up Hill’s production to that of Leonard, as not many saw Leonard as a viable immediate option coming out of San Diego State University, and because the Pacers had different needs at the time of Leonard’s availability.
In his five seasons with the Pacers, Hill contributed at a high level to some of the most competitive teams the Pacers have rolled out in the NBA, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
He amassed 33.1 win shares while with the team, 5.4 win shares in the playoffs. His win shares per 48 minutes rate is seventh in franchise history.
While he would be an effective facilitator, he didn’t take up the floor general role as most point guards do. The Pacers had plenty of players who were comfortable with the ball in their hands, and Hill’s shooting is where he made the greatest impact.
Sitting at fifth in franchise history in made 3-pointers, George really helped the Pacers space the floor and provided space on the interior for players like Roy Hibbert.