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Every single NBA team’s Mount Rushmore of stars

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) look on in the first quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Indiana Pacers Mount Rushmore, Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller – Indiana Pacers Mount Rushmore (MATT CAMPBELL/AFP/Getty Images) /

The Mount Rushmore of the Indiana Pacers

  • Mel Daniels
  • Paul George
  • George McGinnis
  • Reggie Miller

The first name on this list is the greatest Indiana Pacers player in NBA history: Reggie Miller. Miller was a thorn in the side of countless legends, including Patrick Ewing and Michael Jordan, and ultimately became a legend himself because of it.

Miller scored nearly 3,000 postseason points to complement his 25,279 points in the regular season, and led Indiana to one NBA Finals and five Eastern Conference Finals.

The second name on this list ist he greatest Indiana Pacers player in ABA history: Mel Daniels. Daniels won two ABA MVP awards, three ABA championships, and made four All-ABA First Team appearances as a genuine icon of Indiana basketball.

Most remember the Pacers’ NBA years, but it was in the ABA that the Indiana became the winningest franchise of the 1970s—in either league.

Next on the list is George McGinnis. McGinnis won the 1975 ABA MVP award to put a bow on a Pacers career that also included two championships, 1973 ABA Playoffs MVP honors, and two consecutive All-ABA First Team selections.

Daniels is widely regarded as the greatest Pacer in ABA history, but McGinnis did more than enough to earn his place on the Mount Rushmore.

The last spot may be the most difficult, as both Roger Brown and Paul George have legitimate cases. Brown won three championships and was the 1970 ABA Playoffs MVP, and George was three-time All-NBA and three-time All-Defense while leading Indiana to two Conference Finals.

Players such as Ron Artest, Danny Granger, and Jermaine O’Neal were also considered, but it was ultimately George who got the nod.

Next: From Buffalo to San Diego to Los Angeles