Indiana Pacers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

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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9. Herb Williams (PF/C) – No. 14 pick in 1981 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Pacers): 577 GP, 15.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.5 TOV, 47.6 FG%, 70.6 FT%

Herb Williams was a power forward/center from Ohio State who enjoyed a long and productive career in the NBA, and it all started when the Pacers made him the 14th pick in the 1981 NBA Draft.

Williams was a skilled big man, but he didn’t possess great athleticism, which allowed Indiana to take a chance on him as he fell outside the top 10 that year.

Williams could score in the post, and had a nice midrange shot. He was a solid rebounder, and despite not being a great leaper, he was a very effective shot-blocker.

The 6-foot-10, 242-pound frontcourt player from the state of Ohio played eight years for Indiana, and even when he was traded, he found a way to contribute further to the Pacers franchise.

Williams was part of a 1989 deal that brought Detlef Schrempf and the draft pick that became Antonio Davis to Indiana, which turned out to be an excellent trade for the Pacers.

After his time in Indiana, Herb Williams went on to play 10 more seasons in the NBA, retiring at the age of 41 — not bad for a guy who many pundits thought was too slow and awkward to make a mark at the pro level.

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