Former NBA champion and Pacers legend David West spoke out about his former team on Instagram. A couple of weeks ago, ESPN posted a picture on social media referencing how great the 2013-2014 Pacers team that nearly upset the Lebron-led Heat. The picture included Paul George, George Hill, Lance Stephenson, and Roy Hibbert. As fans know, those four players helped the team reach new heights, but here the controversy starts.
The post removed David West from it, showing only his arm in the photo. He later took to his Instagram account to discuss his impact on his teammates and the culture he helped create. He later says in his video, "When I got there, Lance didn't even play. Roy was 220 pounds because O'Brien wanted him to be skinny and fast. O'Brien told Paul he would be a bust and never played in the NBA, and when I got there, I reversed everything." West refers to former Pacers coach Jim O'Brien, the head coach before Frank Voegel took over.
West played four years with the Pacers, and he put up a solid state line. According to Basketball Reference, he averaged 14 PPG and 7 RPG. His numbers dipped when he came to the Pacers, but he still made a massive contribution. He helped many of the other players achieve their potential. Lance Stephenson will go down as one of the most polarizing players who has dawned the blue and gold jersey, but he is one of the players West impacted.
The 2nd round pick out of the 2010 draft played his first four years with the Indiana-based team. From his rookie year to his last season with the team, he increased his average PPG by nearly 11 points.
Also, the shake-n-bake action when he closed out the New Knicks in the 2013 Eastern Conference semifinals. Stephenson grew from a player who never saw any minutes to help lift the team to back-to-back Eastern Conference finals. West's tough-love leadership style helped Stephenson's offense and defense flourish to the next level.
One of the greatest defensive players in Pacers history learned grit and determination from David West. According to Basketball Reference, Roy Hibbert grew from that skinny 220-pound kid to a 2x All-Star and 2014 runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
He is 5th all-time in blocks in the team's history. When David West arrived in Indianapolis, he helped change Hibbert's physicality. Hibbert became the anchor of the defense, where he nearly helped the Pacers over the Heat in back-to-back seasons.
Arguably, the greatest Pacers player of all time was on the roster when West arrived. From winning the most improved player to being considered one of the greatest two-way players this league has ever seen, Paul George has to credit much of his success to his veteran leader.
George's game evolved from his first seven years with the Pacers, and looking at him now, he could be on his way to his first career championship with the Clippers. The veteran leadership gave PG13 the courage to blossom into the player we know today.
David West should and will go down as a major catalyst on those Pacers teams. The respect he derives should be at or beyond the level of the players listed. The Pacers would have never reached the heights over those four years without the presence of David West.