What former Indiana Pacers are in the 2022 NBA playoffs?
By Zach Pearson
The Indiana Pacers have had a decent amount of roster turnover in the past few seasons. From Victor Oladipo to Torrey Craig, there are some former Pacers to root for this year.
Several former Pacers are still in the running for a title this season, unfortunately, it won’t be with the Indiana Pacers.
The Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks hold two former Pacers on their roster in Wesley Matthews and George Hill. Matthews finished the 2018-19 NBA season with the Pacers, playing in 23 games and averaging 10.9 points per game in those matches.
When I think of Matthews, there is one play that stands out from his time with the Pacers. His game-winning shot against Paul George was a great one for Indiana fans.
George Hill gave the Pacers five seasons of consistent point guard play. Helping the team make it all the way to the eastern conference finals alongside Paul George and Lance Stephenson.
Hill averaged 14.2 points per game that season along with 4.7 assists. He was never an all-star, but he gave the Pacers consistency at the point guard spot on some of their better teams in the franchise’s history.
Phoenix Suns
Two more former Pacers now belong to the Suns in Aaron Holiday and Torrey Craig. Craig didn’t spend a full season with the Pacers, as he was signed in free agency at the start of this season. He would play 51 games in Indiana before being traded for Jalen Smith to Phoenix.
He made 14 starts this season as he battled Oshae Brissett for playing time. His season stats were 6.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds.
Former first-round draft pick Aaron Holiday made his way to the Suns after Indiana traded him to the Wizards for essentially the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson.
Holiday had a few big moments in the clutch, including this game-winning shot against the Orlando Magic back in 2019. His brother Justin sets him up for the three-point attempt.
Holiday was very streaky and at times rushed things on the court. When he was on, however, he was very good and very fun to watch. He just couldn’t find that consistency in Indiana. He averaged 7.7 points per game in his three seasons with the Pacers.
Miami Heat
It is difficult to discuss, but Victor Oladipo is on the Heat and now into the second round of the playoffs for the first time in his career.
Oladipo was part of the Paul George trade in what turned into two players who would become two-time all-stars in their time with the Pacers. Oladipo was the face of the franchise and kept Indiana winning games until he got hurt.
Oladipo’s first season was his statistical best, where he would average 23 points per game and shoot 37.1% from behind the arc.
Philadelphia 76ers
That’s right, Georges Niang was drafted by the Indiana Pacers but spent just one season with the team. He was the Pacers’ 50th pick in the 2016 draft.
Niang appeared in 23 games for Indiana but never saw much production. He scored a total of 20 points in his time with the team.
HM: Bojan Bogdonovic – Utah