Indiana Pacers: Best player in franchise history from each SEC program

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Some of the best role players in Indiana Pacers history come from the SEC.

Known as a football conference, it’s no surprise the SEC has produced some of the Indiana Pacers biggest and toughest players. From basketball players with bodies better suited for the gridiron to players that feared no one and never backed down from a challenge, the Pacers often found their backbone with an SEC player.

Here are the best Pacers players from each SEC program.

Note: The Pacers have not had a player from Arkansas or Vanderbilt

Best Indiana Pacers Player from Alabama: Derrick McKey

The Pacers parted with Detlef Schrempf to acquire Derrick McKey from the SuperSonics prior to the 1993-94 season. Mostly an offensive threat in Seattle, his scoring average began to decline in years five and six in the league.

McKey upped his defensive game after coming to Indiana being named to back-to-back NBA All-Defensive Teams in his first two seasons as a Pacer. His defensive presence was key to a number of Pacers playoff teams in the mid and late 1990s while he also acted as a locker room presence to a number of young guards and wings on the roster.

Over his eight seasons in Indiana, McKey averaged 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per outing. He was traded to Philadelphia before the 2001-02 season, his final in the league.

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