Indiana Pacers: Ranking the last 10 first-round picks

1. Paul George

There may still be some hard feelings between fans of the Pacers and Paul George. Looking at the facts, however, there’s no one else who deserves to lead this list than the talented small forward.

George was a largely unknown quantity when he was selected with the 10th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft out of Fresno State. The hope was that his athleticism and skill would allow him to develop into a star.

And did he ever. He made the All-Rookie Second Team despite making just 19 starts, averaging 7.8 points per game. He struggled during the postseason of his second season but foreshadowed the greatness to come. In 2012-13, he was the NBA’s Most Improved Player, making his first of three All-Star appearances with the Pacers and his first of three All-NBA Third Team appearances.

His efforts on the offensive end were sometimes dwarfed by his tenacity on defense. He made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2013 and 2016 and the All-Defensive First Team in 2014. George would eventually lead the league in steals, though that didn’t come with the Pacers.

There are some “what ifs” that come with George’s Pacers career. His ascension to greatness was halted by the devastating scrimmage compound fracture that essentially eliminated his 2014-15 season. Additionally, if the Pacers didn’t trade Kawhi Leonard, perhaps there would be a championship in their recent past – that combination is currently a serious championship contender with the LA Clippers.

Nevertheless, George is the best player the Pacers have had in the past decade and maybe their best player since Reggie Miller. His trade also brought both Oladipo and Sabonis to the Pacers, to staples of the future. There’s no pick for the best first-rounders in recent Indiana Pacers history other than Paul George.