Indiana Pacers news: Reggie Miller a top-50 all-time player, per ESPN

The greatest Indiana Pacers player of all-time, Reggie Miller, was named within the top-50 of ESPN’s recent all-time ranking of players

When it comes to the Indiana Pacers, you can’t talk about all-time, franchise history without bringing up Reggie Miller. In fact, you really have to start with him.

Sure, the Pacers were more successful in terms of winning titles throughout their ABA years, but Miller put the Pacers on the map as a respectable NBA team for the first time in the late 90s and early 2000s.

It’s hard to put into words how much Miller means to the franchise and the NBA, but Kevin Pelton and ESPN did so in their top-74 players of all-time ranking, in which Miller ranked 49th.

"The greatest shooter of his era, Miller became the NBA’s career leader in 3-pointers during the 1997-98 season and held the record more than a decade, even as 3-point volume increased. The focus on Miller’s longevity — he was still a key starter for a competitive Pacers team before retiring at age 39 — may have overshadowed his peak performance. Miller led the league in true shooting percentage twice and saved his biggest games for the playoffs, particularly at Madison Square Garden against the rival Knicks with Spike Lee courtside, engaging Miller in trash talk. — Kevin Pelton"

Miller ranked one slot lower than Bill Walton at 48, and one better than Wes Unseld at 50. Dominique Wilkins came in at 46, Anthony Davis at 45.

Just being on this list is a high honor, and while Pacers fans may clamor for a higher ranking for Miller, the 40s is probably a fair range. Remember, we’re talking greatest players of all-time here, and winning titles — something Miller and the Pacers didn’t do, despite coming close —  is important to an overall legacy.

Consider this, though. The Pacers made the playoffs 16 times over the course of Miller’s career. In the 11 years prior, the Pacers missed the playoffs in all but one season and were stuck in a terrible feedback loop of destitution.

The Pacers, prior to becoming an NBA team, were doing so poorly financially that they had to sell off many of their star players in the years before joining the NBA. Heck, they even had a telethon to keep the team in Indiana.

That practice of star selling continued once they joined the NBA and all throughout the 80s and early 90s, the Pacers were a losing team because of it.

The loop was — lose games; fans don’t show up, no money made; sell any sort of salvageable talent to competing teams to avoid relocation; repeat the process. 

The rich teams got richer, and the poor teams got poorer. No single talent could pull the Pacers out of the pit they had been in for over a decade.

That is, until Reggie Miller.

Miller’s offensive game was the best that Indy had ever seen. He leads the franchise in 3-point field goals, and held the league record for years until Ray Allen broke it. He nearly doubles up Rik Smits in career points, who is second on the franchise’s running list.

Though Miller sits second in true shooting percentage to Doug McDermott, that’s in large part due to McDermott’s ancillary role on the team. Miller was well before his time, helping to usher in an era that rattles off 3-pointers at a rate not yet seen before.

Good players were placed around Miller, Mark Jackson and Rik Smits among them. These guys were incredible, but by no means Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen. Miller was the force leading his team to success, as evidenced by his 174.4 win shares in his time as a Pacer. Next highest on the list? Roger Brown with 63.5.

No, Miller didn’t will the Pacers to a title. But he did will them to as much success as they’ve ever seen in the NBA era and pushed them into a feedback loop of success.

For the Pacers, he’s the best to ever do it. In terms of NBA history, Miller is right there with the best of ’em.