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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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ABA Basketball: Indiana Pacers Bob Netolicky (24) in action vs Carolina Cougers. Charlotte, NC 4/10/1970 CREDIT: Bruce Roberts (Photo by Bruce Roberts /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X14863 C11 F22 )
ABA Basketball: Indiana Pacers Bob Netolicky (24) in action vs Carolina Cougers. Charlotte, NC 4/10/1970 CREDIT: Bruce Roberts (Photo by Bruce Roberts /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X14863 C11 F22 ) /

100. <strong>How Acquired: </strong>2nd round pick from Drake, 1967 ABA Draft; Trade, San Antonio Spurs, Nov. 14, 1973.. PF-C. 1967-72, 1973-75. Bob Netolicky. 9. player

Coming out of Drake, Bob Netolicky was a second-round draft pick in two leagues–the established NBA and the just-starting-out ABA.

Netolicky chose to sign with the Indiana Pacers, who had taken him in the second round of the 1967 ABA Draft leading into the league’s inaugural campaign.

IND_09_NETOLICKY
IND_09_NETOLICKY /

He was a first team ABA All-Rookie selection in 1967-68 and an All-ABA pick in 1969-70 while being named to four straight ABA All-Star games from 1968-71.

Netolicky was second in the ABA in field-goal percentage in 1968-69 and third in both 1967-68 and 1970-71.

He also helped the Pacers to three ABA Finals in a four-year span from 1969-72.

In a five-game loss to the Oakland Oaks in the 1969 ABA Finals, Netolicky led the Pacers with an average of 26.4 points per game.

He put up 20.3 points per game in the ABA Finals in 1970 as Indiana won its first championship in six games over the Los Angeles Stars.

Netolicky played a smaller role in the 1972 ABA Finals, averaging 4.3 points per game in a six-game triumph over the New York Nets.

In July 1972, he was traded to the Dallas Chaparrals in a straight cash deal.

The Pacers re-acquired Netolicky from the San Antonio Spurs for cash and an undisclosed draft pick in November 1973.

He did not play in the 1975 ABA Finals loss to the Kentucky Colonels and retired in November 1975 after appearing just sparingly in four games at the start of the 1975-76 season.

In parts of eight seasons in Indiana, Netolicky averaged 15.7 points and 8.9 rebounds in 32.3 minutes per game, shooting .493/.207/.661.

He was also a second-round selection, 18th overall, by the San Diego Rockets in the 1967 NBA Draft, but never played in the NBA.

With the Chaparrals in 1972-73, Netolicky was fifth in the ABA in minutes per game. He was with the franchise for its move to San Antonio in 1973.

He is 10th in ABA history with 618 games, eighth with 20,554 minutes and fifth with 5,518 rebounds.

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