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Indiana Pacers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Pacers

By Phil Watson

Apr 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer from the stands during the Pacers' game against the Toronto Raptors in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Toronto 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fans cheer from the stands during the Pacers' game against the Toronto Raptors in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats Toronto 101-83. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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NEW YORK - CIRCA 1974: John Williamson #23 of the New York Nets looks to pass the ball while defended by Freddie Lewis #14 of the Indiana Pacers during an ABA basketball game circa 1974 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York City. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Williamson; Freddie Lewis
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1974: John Williamson #23 of the New York Nets looks to pass the ball while defended by Freddie Lewis #14 of the Indiana Pacers during an ABA basketball game circa 1974 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York City. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Williamson; Freddie Lewis /

<strong>How Acquired: </strong>Signed, Sept. 1, 1967; Free agent, Aug. 31, 1976.. SG-PG. 1967-74, 1976-77. Freddie Lewis. 16. player. 100

Freddie Lewis was an afterthought as an NBA rookie and was left unprotected in an expansion draft after the season.

He found a new path, signing instead with the Indiana Pacers of the fledgling American Basketball Association in the summer of 1967.

IND_16_LEWIS
IND_16_LEWIS /

It was a solid decision by Lewis, who helped the Pacers to four ABA Finals berths and championships in 1970, 1972 and 1973. He was a three-time ABA All-Star while with Indiana, as well.

He may not have filled up the stat sheet, but he was the leader of the bunch in Indy.

Lewis averaged 22.8 points per game in his first ABA Finals, a five-game loss to the Oakland Oaks in 1969.

In the 1970 ABA Finals, Lewis put up 16.7 points a game as the Pacers grabbed their first title with a six-game triumph over the Los Angeles Stars.

Back in the Finals in 1972, Lewis was named Playoff MVP after averaging 22.8 points a game in a six-game victory over the New York Nets.

He put up 19.1 points per game as Indiana became the lone repeat champions in ABA history with a seven-game win over the Kentucky Colonels in 1973.

In July 1974, the Pacers traded Lewis and Mel Daniels to the Memphis Sounds in exchange for Charlie Edge and cash.

When the team entered the NBA in 1976, Lewis returned to Indianapolis as a free agent in August 1976, but retired in February 1977.

In parts of eight seasons in Indiana, Lewis averaged 16.1 points, 4.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34.0 minutes per game, shooting .427/.279/.815.

He was a 10th-round pick out of Arizona State in the 1966 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals and was claimed by the San Diego Rockets in the May 1967 expansion draft.

Traded to the Spirits of St. Louis in October 1974, Lewis was an All-Star in 1975, earning All-Star Game MVP honors. He was fourth in the ABA in minutes per game and fifth in both free-throw shooting and steals in 1974-75.

When the Spirits folded as part of the NBA-ABA merger in August 1976, Lewis was not selected in the dispersal draft.

He is third in ABA history with 686 games, second with 24,038 minutes, ninth with 275 three-pointers, fourth with 2,883 assists and sixth with 11,660 points.

Next: Big Man Backstopped Eastern Contender

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