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Indiana Pacers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

By Adrian Lawhorn

Apr 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; iIndiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; iIndiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the first quarter in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller during an NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Reggie Miller (SG) – No. 11 pick in 1987 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Pacers):  1,389 GP, 18.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 1.7 TOV, 47.1 FG%, 39.5 3P%, 88.8 FT%

The addition of UCLA guard Reggie Miller in the 1987 NBA Draft was initially met with disdain by Pacers Nation, but Miller proved to be worth far more than anyone could have anticipated at the time.

Many basketball fans in the state of Indiana wanted the Pacers to draft local hero Steve Alford from New Castle and Indiana University, but those hopes were crushed despite Alford’s availability when Indiana chose Miller with its first round pick.

Reggie Miller went on to play 18 seasons for the Pacers, and he solidified himself as one of the best clutch shooters the NBA has ever seen.

Miller’s numbers were impressive, but his crunch-time playoff performances are what elevated him to Hall of Fame status (he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012).

The five-time NBA All-Star currently works for TNT as an NBA analyst, so his association with the game has continued beyond his retirement as a player in 2005.

So what became of Steve Alford you ask? Alford was primarily a deep bench player during his four NBA seasons before beginning a successful college coaching career in 1991.

Next: Knicks - Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

History would have been changed had Indiana succumbed to the pressure to draft Alford over Reggie Miller in 1987. Fortunately for Pacers fans, general manager Donnie Walsh decided to make a very unpopular move that turned into pure gold.

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