Indiana Pacers: Best player all-time from each ACC Program

Best Indiana Pacers player from Clemson: Dale Davis

The 13th overall pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, Dale Davis played his first nine seasons in Indiana and part of the 2004-05 campaign.

A valued big man and starter in the physical years of the NBA, Davis was a constant double-double threat and big body inside. He is fifth in franchise history with 671 games played and averaged 9.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per contest.

One of the best rebounders in Pacers’ history, he ranks second in career rebounds behind Mel Daniels while his 2,276 offensive rebounds are the most in team history.

An efficient scorer, his 54.3 career field goal percentage is second in the Pacers’ record book. Davis had his best season in 1993-94 when he put up 11.7 points, grabbed 10.9 rebounds, and blocked 1.6 points per night as a third-year player.

Just as Davis turned 30 and fresh off an All-Star nod and Pacers’ NBA Finals appearance, Davis was traded to Portland for a seldom-used big man named Jermaine O’Neal who went on to an exceptional Pacers career of his own.

In total, Davis averaged eight points and 7.9 rebounds over his 16-year career.

Best Indiana Pacers player from Duke: Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Mike Dunleavy Jr. was an All-American and NCAA Champion when the Golden State Warriors selected him third overall in the 2001 NBA Draft.

He came to Indiana in an eight-player trade in 2006-07 highlighted by Troy Murphy also coming to Indy and Al Harrington and Stephen Jackson going west.

In his first full season with the Pacers, Dunleavy had a career-best year averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while playing in all 82 contests. He battled injuries the following season and finished his five-year Indiana career with 271 games and a scoring average of 14 points per night.

Dunleavy went on to play six more seasons in the NBA and is now the Assistant General Manager for the Warriors.